Introduction to purple lips
The medical term for purple lips is cyanosis and it can be caused by many different things that ultimately lead to the tissues near the surface of the skin having low oxygen levels. It causes a discoloration of the skin and membranes, making them appear bluish. In some cases, the cause is different — blue or purple tinted lips can also result from abnormal hemoglobin, as seen in sickle cell disease.
Purple lips can sometimes be caused by cold weather, however, it can also be a symptom of a more serious condition related to the heart or lungs.
Babies who were born with some type of birth defect can also have purple lips.
Also, it is not just the lips that can turn purple. The fingers and toes can also turn this color in some instances of health problems.
Causes of purple lips and cyanosis
One of the most common and least serious causes or blue or purple lips is cold weather. When the body temperature drops, less blood is flowing to certain parts of the body, which causes them to turn purple as these tissues are not prioritized for oxygen circulation. This usually happens in the lips and the extremities, especially the toes and fingers. A similar phenomenon can be encountered at high altitudes, so if you have purple lips when you are in a mountain, this is a likely cause.
Purple lips could also occur as a result of blood clots in the lungs. This condition, known as a pulmonary embolism, will also cause a person to have difficulty breathing and chest pain as well. Other lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulomonary disease or pneumonia can also cause blue or purple lips as oxygen supply is compromised.
Another cause of purple lips is abnormal levels of hemoglobin in the blood. This sometimes occurs when a person is anemic.
Heart failure and diseases that damage the heart valves can also cause purple lips. These conditions usually result from high cholesterol or blood pressure.
Heart attacks can also cause purple lips, because they obstruct the flow of blood throughout the body. Other symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain and breathlessness.
Respiratory problems such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, and hypoventilation can also lead to purple lips.Treatment
The treatment for purple lips of course depends on the cause of the purple lips. If the lips are purple or blue due to cold whether, then the lips will return their normal color once the body temperature increases again and the blood flow goes back to normal.
It is important to wear warm clothes when going outside in cold weather and to drink hot tea and soup after coming in from the cold, especially if you were outside without dressing appropriately for the cold weather.
If the purple lips are resulting from heart problems, most of them, especially the serious ones, will have to be corrected by way of surgery.
If the purple lips are being caused by lung cancer, then just like most cancer treatments, the person will probably have to go through chemotherapy in order to get rid of the cancerous cells that are causing it.
If a blood clot is to blame, then a person will probably be given anti-coagulants by the doctor to thin the blood.
It is most important to live a healthy lifestyle, which means that you must eat well-balanced and healthy meals and exercise regularly. The healthier of a life you lead, the less likely it is that you will have problems with purple lips.
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