The condition of the lips and their appearance are an indicator of health. Almost every one of us saw a man with blue lips. Such changes in their color may indicate the development of pathology in the body. The doctor can answer the question of why the lips turn blue in an adult , which you need to immediately contact, especially if there is a strong heartbeat, breathing problems, and an increase in temperature.
Description of the problem
Cyanosis of the lips in medicine is commonly called cyanosis. What is this It is a symptom of various diseases, which are manifested by a change in the shade of the lips and skin to blue. This is due to the accumulation of a huge amount of deoxyhemoglobin in the blood. Blood unsaturated with the right amount of oxygen takes on a dark color. Therefore, it becomes visible through the skin, especially in those places where the epidermis is very thin.
Considering the question of why an adult's lips turn blue after alcohol and smoking, it should be noted that this is due to the ingress of toxins and harmful gases.
Types of Cyanosis
In medicine, these types of cyanosis are distinguished:
- Central, characterized by a pronounced blue color of the lips and cheeks. This happens due to a violation of blood circulation, as a result of which carbon anhydride is collected in large quantities in it.
- Peripheral, which is caused by a slowdown in blood flow in the capillaries, an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the body. There is a mixture of venous and arterial blood, breathing quickens.
It is also customary to separate temporary and permanent cyanosis. In the first case, its appearance provokes hypothermia or strong physical exertion. In the second case, cyanosis is associated with pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Now it became clear why an adult's lips turn blue when it's cold . More detailed reasons for the development of anomalies will be discussed below.
Causes
Blue lips and skin can for various reasons. This may be due not only to pathologies in the body, but also to the influence of external factors. These include, for example, being in a place with a low oxygen content for a long time, high physical exertion, hypothermia, drug overdose, poisoning of the body or performing operations under general anesthesia. Cyanosis can also talk about health problems. Let us consider this question in more detail.
Impaired lung function
Why do the lips of an adult turn blue? A photo of such a pathology is provided. One of the factors of its appearance may be the presence of a blood clot in the artery of the lung. It also manifests itself with exacerbation of COPD or bronchial asthma. With a long stay under water or being on a mountain peak, lips can also turn blue. Blueness of the lips is almost always observed with severe pneumonia.
Airway obstruction
These reasons include holding your breath or choking. Some diseases may also be noted that provoke a violation of airway patency. These include bronchiectasis, characterized by the expansion of part of the bronchi with stagnation of sputum, which leads to infections.
Also, lips can turn blue with epiglottitis, which is manifested by inflammation of the epiglottis. In addition, pathology occurs with long-term convulsions as a result of some diseases.
Disorders of the blood vessels and heart
It is difficult to answer the question of why the lips of an adult are blue without a thorough diagnosis. A very common source is heart failure. Here, the organ cannot provide the necessary blood flow to the organs and tissues of the human body.
People with congenital heart disease also suffer from cyanosis. This is due to a defect in the organ, which is characterized by the ingress of blood with a small amount of oxygen from the right ventricle directly into the left ventricle, not reaching the lungs. Blue lips are also observed with cardiac arrest.
Other reasons
Blue lips can be observed when taking a large number of sedatives or drugs, benzodiazepines, as well as with prolonged exposure to cold air or water. We already know why an adult's lips turn blue when playing sports . Here the blood vessels narrow, the blood does not completely fill the lips, and it enters the internal organs.
Blue lips are often observed with anemia, when the body lacks iron, which is part of hemoglobin, and he, in turn, is responsible for the red color of the blood. Also, the level of this substance can fall with blood loss. Stressful situations can provoke blue lips. Over time, an unpleasant symptom disappears in these cases.
Symptoms
Cyanosis is in some cases a symptom of various diseases. It can be accompanied by the bluing of not only the lips, but also the areas around the eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body. Often there is swelling of the capillaries on the neck and their swelling. The following symptoms may also occur:
- In case of violation of the lungs and bronchi: shortness of breath, cough, fever, hemoptysis, pain in the sternum.
- In case of heart disease: bluish nasolabial triangle, shortness of breath, erythrocytosis, deformation of nails and fingers.
With the development of such symptoms, it is recommended to immediately seek help from a specialist who will establish a diagnosis and answer why the lips are turning blue in an adult . In some cases, immediate respiratory resuscitation is required. Doctors carry out hardware and laboratory studies, the results of which make an accurate diagnosis.
Complications
If the blueness of the lips is ignored, the treatment was not carried out or was performed in bad faith and poor quality, a person often has neuropsychiatric diseases that can affect the brain. In this case, asomnia develops, appetite is lost, immunity is reduced. In severe cases, a person falls into a coma or dies. Therefore, it is important to diagnose in time and begin treatment of the pathology.
Treatment
An ambulance must be called immediately if blueness of the lips is accompanied by shortness of breath and loss of consciousness, vomiting or suffocation, blood loss and other negative symptoms. The above indicates why the lips turn blue in an adult. Treatment should be prescribed by a specialist in any case.
First aid comes down to the fact that the patient is laid so as to maximize the flow of oxygen, then you can give the appropriate medications to alleviate the general condition and immediately call an ambulance.
If the blue lips are due to hypothermia, you need to warm a person by wrapping him in a blanket and giving hot tea, rub it as much as possible. With slight subcooling, it is recommended to take a bath with lukewarm water, gradually increasing its temperature to 40 ° C. Then you need to wrap yourself in a terry towel and lie under the covers.
Do not immediately place the patient under hot water, as well as give him alcohol or coffee. Otherwise, the risk of developing internal hemorrhages, rupture of capillaries and other negative consequences increases. If hypothermia is quite severe, a person may die. Therefore, it must be immediately sent to the hospital.
If the lips are bluish during pregnancy, a gynecologist should be consulted, who will prescribe special preparations containing iron. In this case, it is better not to engage in self-medication. There are many reasons why an adult's lips turn blue. Treatment with folk remedies can adversely affect human health. Therefore, you need to see a doctor.
Prevention
It is necessary to adhere to the correct lifestyle, do not overwork physically, do not overcool. It is also recommended for the purpose of prevention to exclude the use of alcohol and nicotine. Pregnant women should carefully monitor their health, visit a gynecologist on time. In the presence of cardiac pathologies or blood diseases, prophylactic treatment is recommended.
So, why do the lips of an adult turn blue? At present, there are a lot of factors causing such a pathology. They can be associated with both internal problems and external influences. It is important to timely diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Otherwise, the risk of complications and even the onset of death increases.