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Blue lips causes and therapy
contents
How do you get blue lips??
Blue lips in cold weather
Causes of blue lips
Causes of peripheral cyanosis
Blue lips in children
When to the doctor?
Treatment for cyanosis
Home remedy for blue-colored lips
How do you get blue lips??
If the lips turn blue, this is a sign of an oxygen suppression of the blood in this area, which is referred to medically as "cyanosis". The red blood cells (erythrocytes), the blood carries large amounts of oxygen in organs and tissues, which is a prerequisite for all processes in the body and therefore vital. At the same time, the carrier of the oxygen in the red blood cells is the blood pigment "hemoglobin", which gives the blood its typical red coloring. However, this only appears if the hemoglobin has absorbed enough oxygen, but if there is a defect, this turns bluish-purple. As a result, the blood changes color and no longer shimmers light red but bluish through the skin, which normally occurs when there is at least five grams of inadequate oxygenated (deoxygenated) hemoglobin in 100 milliliters (ml) of blood. The lips often stain most clearly, because through the very thin skin, especially in fair-skinned types, the bluish-purple blood visibly through.
If not only the skin and / or the mucous membranes but also the so-called "body appendages" (acres) such as fingers, toes, nose and ears are affected by the blue coloration, there is medical talk of an "acrocyanosis", which affects especially young women. In general, a distinction is made medically between a central and a peripheral or external cyanosis. In the former, the blood is not sufficiently "loaded" with oxygen already in the lungs, whereby not only skin and lips, but also the internal organs receive oxygen-poorer blood. Peripheral cyanosis, on the other hand, is characterized by a slowing of the blood flow in the vessels, leading to increased oxygen depletion in the so-called "peripheral" parts of the body, such as the hands or feet. This means that the blood gives off the oxygen, but it is transported away more slowly than normal, causing the skin to appear bluish in the sequence. Typical examples are blue lips in cold weather, other possible causes are blood vessel diseases or heart failure.
The two forms can be distinguished by vigorous rubbing of the ear lobes, as this remains blue in central cyanosis, while in the peripheral variant it retains its normal reddish color. The tongue can also help with differentiation, because while a rosy tongue indicates a cyanosis with external causes, a bluish color is usually an indication of a central cause.
Blue lips in cold weather
Blue lips can have a variety of causes, all of which are characterized by a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood. As a result, the blood pigment hemoglobin no longer appears bright red, but instead shimmers dark red-bluish through the skin. If the blue lips appear for a short time and then disappear on their own, strong cold may be the cause. Because in this case, the body switches to a protection mode, which means that the blood is drawn from the more remote and superficial body parts in the body and the brain. If the circulation is reduced, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissue decreases, as a result of which more oxygen is withdrawn from the blood. However, since only oxygen-rich blood is bright red, this appears darker in an oxygen deficiency and shines through the thin skin of the lips bluish-purple.
Causes of blue lips
For a central cyanosis are also very often diseases of the heart (cardiac cyanosis) or the lung (pulmonary cyanosis) as a cause into consideration. Possible here, for example, a heart failure (heart failure), in which the weakened heart muscle, the tissue can not be sufficiently supplied with blood and oxygen. As a result, there is a lack of oxygen, especially in the outer zones of the body (periphery), which is externally recognizable by a blue coloration of the skin and lips. Also typical are symptoms such as shortness of breath when climbing stairs, swollen legs (especially in the ankle area), frequent urination at night as well as tachycardia and tightness of the chest during exertion. In addition, many sufferers feel constantly exhausted and experience a strong inner restlessness as well as frequent coughing and rattling noises when breathing. Heart failure can occur after a previous heart attack, but often other diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD), heart muscle inflammation (myocarditis) or cardiac arrhythmias are the cause. In addition, high blood pressure (hypertension) and anemia (anemia) as a trigger into consideration, also include diabetes, excessive alcohol and nicotine consumption as well as obesity and obesity (obesity) as risk factors for the development of heart failure.
In addition, a congenital or acquired heart defect may be the reason for blue lips. Possible here, for example, a so-called "hole" in the heart septum (Ventrikelseptumdefekt), through which it comes to a mixture of low-oxygen and oxygen-rich blood. As a result of which already spent blood gets back into the systemic circulation and thus less oxygen than in an intact blood circulation.
Also, various diseases of the lung can affect the gas exchange in the alveoli, in which normally the fresh oxygen from the breathing air is "exchanged" with the spent carbon dioxide from the blood. If this gas exchange is disturbed or restricted, however, there is no sufficient "loading" with oxygen, which means that the affected person inhales air, but nevertheless does not get enough oxygen into the blood. Due to the lack of oxygen, the red blood pigment hemoglobin turns bluish-purple and no longer appears bright red but dark red-bluish through the skin. For example, this is relatively common in the advanced stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often referred to as "smoker's lung". Possible, however, are also, for example, bronchial asthma, pneumonia or a pathological accumulation of air in the chest (pneumothorax), which causes shortness of breath, cyanosis and shortness of breath.
Causes of peripheral cyanosis
In the case of peripheral cyanosis, the blue coloration of the lips and skin can be attributed to the fact that the blood in the blood vessels flows very slowly, which is often caused by a contraction of the vessels (for example in cold weather). Frequently, however, the blood flow is also disturbed by vascular occlusions, for example by a blood clot leading to a venous thrombosis in the legs. As a result, the low-oxygen blood can no longer drain correspondingly, resulting in venous pain, swelling, numbness in the legs and cyanosis, among other things. If there is a suspicion, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible, because the blood clot dissolves in the blood, this can migrate through the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening embolism in the lungs.
Relatively rarely, peripheral cyanosis can also be triggered by a so-called "methemoglobinemia", which is an elevated concentration of methaemoglobin (methaemoglobinaemia) in the blood. In this case, the blood pigment hemoglobin is converted to the inoperative methemoglobin and thus can no longer bind or transport oxygen. Methaemoglobinaemia can have a variety of causes, such as hereditary enzyme deficiency or poisoning with nitrite, nitrobenzene or aniline. In addition to an increased concentration of methemoglobin but also by certain drugs (phenacetin, acetaminophen, etc.) or by drugs such as amyl nitrite and isopropyl nitrite existing "poppers" are caused. While chronic methaemoglobinemias are often clinically unremarkable, the symptoms of hypoxia such as mild cyanosis, headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, and lethargy usually occur early in the acute case. Increases in the methaemoglobin content to a proportion of 40-50%, it comes in addition to severe cyanosis and confusion, from a Met-Hb concentration of 60-70% can also cause coma and in case of death even death.
Blue lips in children
Especially when children have been in the water for a long time or have spent a lot of time in the fresh air in the winter, bluish-tinged lips often appear. There is usually no reason to panic here. Instead, it is a sign that the child is freezing, which is a normal reaction of the body to a cold ambient temperature. Freezing in the cold has a special protective function for the body, which prevents the body temperature from falling too much. This works best by lowering the blood flow to the farthest parts of the body (the acres) and instead focusing on the vital organs (heart, brain, digestive organs, etc.).
As a result, the blood flows more slowly and gives off increased oxygen, making it no longer as usual bright red, but from a certain threshold (from five grams of deoxygenated hemoglobin in 100ml of blood) is dark red-bluish colored. If the skin is particularly thin in certain areas such as the lips, this color now appears blue, which is often very evident, especially in children with fair skin. This form of blue color usually occurs in parallel on the buttocks (fingers, nose tip, feet, earlobes, etc.), which is referred to medically as "acrocyanosis". Since the blood vessels in the skin contract as a result of the cold, the typical facial pallor often arises in addition to the erecting of the body hair so-called "goose bumps" and a tremor of the muscles, through which additional heat is produced.
In some cases, however, blue lips may also be a symptom of a serious disease, such as a heart defect or pneumonia. Accordingly, especially if the blue color lasts longer or after warming up, in case of doubt, always consult a doctor to get to the root cause.
When to the doctor?
If the lips turn bluish, this - especially with parents - usually causes a great shock. But the discoloration is often no cause for concern, because not in every case, this indicates a disease. Rather, cyanosis often occurs in children who spend a long time outdoors at low temperatures or in cooler water. This is because the body reacts to the cold by, among other things, contracting the outer vessels of the skin to store more heat inside the body. As a result, the blood flow is lowered, whereby the oxygen-poor blood can no longer drain so quickly and remains longer in the vessels. However, since the "spent" blood is darker than the oxygen-rich, this finally appears quickly through the thin lips skin in cold bluish-purple. However, due to heat, this phenomenon usually disappears after just a few moments and accordingly represents a natural reaction of the body which normally does not require any medical treatment.
However, if the blue color persists even after warming up or is not associated with cold, a physician should be consulted as soon as possible. Because in this case, the blue lips can be quite an indication of a more serious disease such as pneumonia or circulatory disorders. In addition, symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, acute respiratory distress, physical weakness or pale skin, should also be called immediately an ambulance, because it could also be signs of a heart attack, a pulmonary embolism or a strong lack of oxygen.
Treatment for cyanosis
If the lips become more discolored for no apparent cause (such as cold) and / or if the color persists, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible to clarify the exact cause and, if necessary, start treatment. Since cyanosis is often due to heart or lung disease (e.g., CHD, heart failure, chronic bronchitis, or COPD), treatment options range from general measures such as bed rest or ample fluid intake, to medication, to surgery. In parallel, oxygen is often administered to the patient (e.g., via a nasogastric tube) to make up for the deficiency causing the blue coloration.
For example, if there is an increased concentration of methaemoglobin in the blood (methaemoglobinaemia) caused by toxins or drugs, it is usually treated with oxygen and an intravenous supply of methylene blue as an antidote (antidote). In very severe cases, a blood transfusion may be necessary. Hereditary methemoglobinemia, on the other hand, is untreatable; instead, only the symptoms, e.g. relieved by the administration of vitamin C. If the blue lips can be associated with heart failure, the first step of therapy is the treatment or elimination of the cause. This is done either medically (e.g., by ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers) or as e.g. in the case of a heart valve defect surgically, the heart is severely damaged, remains in some cases only a heart transplant as the last therapeutic option. In addition, the personal lifestyle plays a central role in heart failure. As a result, it is imperative that those affected pay attention to their own lifestyle in order to minimize risk factors such as obesity, nicotine and excessive alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, thereby improving their personal quality of life.
Home remedy for blue-colored lips
If the lips have turned blue due to cold, heat should be applied to the body as soon as possible. However, this should always be gentle and slow, e.g. through a thick blanket, hot water bottle or a hot tea done, on a hot bath, however, should rather be omitted so as not to overload the circulation. Also, exercise can provide a quick remedy, as it brings the circulation back into motion and stimulates blood circulation. However, if, for example, a circulatory disorder is the reason for recurring blue lips, various home remedies can provide an effective supplement to conventional medical treatment offers. However, it must be remembered that impaired blood circulation must always be taken very seriously and checked by a doctor, as it is often the result of progressive arteriosclerosis, which in turn can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
If medical care is provided, however, rubbing with pine pollen oil or rubbing alcohol, for example, can help to stimulate blood circulation and relax tense muscles. Garlic is also considered to be one of the most effective natural remedies for blood circulation, protecting the sensitive inner walls of the vessel and preventing deposits. If you do not like the taste or smell of fresh garlic cloves, you can alternatively use extracts in capsule or tablet form. Again and again have proven applications in the field of hydrotherapy, in which the healing power of water is used to relieve symptoms. Here, for example, cold arm-castings are suitable for circulatory disorders, for which the cold jet of water is first slowly led back from the back of the hand on the arm to the shoulder and then on the inside. This is repeated twice, then the left arm is changed and the application is also performed three times. (No)