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Bluish lips may indicate a serious problem.
Bluish lips may be caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. It may not indicate an emergency in all cases, but it isn’t something to be taken lightly.
Some conditions that may restrict oxygen levels taken by the lungs include:
- Blockage in the air passages
- Choking
- Excessive coughing
- Smoke inhalation
Congenital heart malformation can result in partially oxygenated blood entering the blood circulation, causing poor tissue perfusion and blue lips.
7 conditions causing blue lips
Some common conditions that cause blue lips include:
- Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration occurs due to decreased oxygenation or poor circulation. It may occur suddenly due to a severe health problem or over time due to the worsening of a chronic condition.
- Aspiration pneumonia: It occurs when a person accidentally inhales food, stomach acid, or saliva into the lungs. It is more common in people with impaired coughing or swelling.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD): An exposure to triggers or allergens can cause COPD flare-ups. COPD flare-ups can lead to cyanosis, chest pain, and confusion.
- Asthma: A severe asthmatic attack can lead to pale or blue lips, fingers, or fingernails. People can prevent asthma flare-ups by avoiding triggers.
- Pulmonary embolism: Pulmonary embolism leads to blockage in the pulmonary artery carrying blood from the heart to the lungs. As a result, there’s a lack of oxygen in the blood, leading to blue lips.
- Cardiac arrest: Cardiac arrest can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood, leading to blue lips.
- Severe pneumonia: Severe pneumonia can lead to bluish discoloration of the lips due to an infection of the lungs.
3 lesser-known causes of blue lips
Three less common causes of blue lips include:
- Polycythemia vera (a bone marrow disorder that leads to excess production of the red blood cells)
- Cor pulmonale (a decreased function of the right side of the heart caused by long-term high blood pressure)
- Septicemia (blood poisoning caused by bacteria)
Other non-dangerous conditions that lead to blue lips include:
Blue lips in children
In infants, bluish discoloration in the lips, hands, and feet should be evaluated wherever possible. It could be a symptom of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, which occurs in children younger than two years.
However, RSV is not the only cause of blue lips in children. Serious respiratory conditions such as childhood asthma episodes can lead to blue lips in children. Chemical poisoning caused by ingesting antifreeze or ammonia can be the major reason for blue lips in children.
How are blue lips treated?
Treatment is required for any underlying condition. If there’s an underlying condition such as problems with the lungs or heart, it needs appropriate treatment. Blue lips may resolve on their own if it is caused by reasons such as cold weather, vigorous exercise, and physical exertion.
Your physician may recommend the following things while treating blue lips:
- Start oxygen supplementation
- Adjust the dose of certain medications to ensure that the RBC and WBC remain balanced
- Treat severe conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or emphysema and suggest lifestyle changes to improve respiratory health
When to contact a medical professional
Bluish lips may indicate a serious problem. For adults, contact your doctor or call the local emergency number, such as 911, if you notice these symptoms:
- Failure to take a deep breath or your breathing is getting harder, painful, or faster
- Need to lean forward when sitting to breathe
- Chest pains
- The neck muscles look taut while the person breaths
- Frequent headaches that interfere with your daily activities
- Feel sleepy or confused
- Fever
- Dark-colored mucus while coughing
If children have bluish lips followed by these symptoms, you need to contact your doctor:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest muscles move in with each breath
- A limp or floppy body
- Nostrils flare out while breathing
- No appetite
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Breathing at a faster rate (more than 50 to 60 breaths per minute when not crying)
- Making a grumbling noise
- Sitting with shoulders hunched over
- Exhaustion
- Not moving around much