The Causes of Purple Lips

A purple lip is really what the name implies. It is the change in the colouration of the lips from pink to purple or blue and is common in colder climates. A look into the causes of purple lips has indicated that it could either be the effect of the cold, or a medical condition known as cyanosis.

Cyanosis or purple or blue lips in simple terms are the change in colour of the skin membrane that is caused by inadequate oxygen amount of oxygen in the blood. It can be due to low blood counts or problems with the oxygen content of the blood. It is common to those with existing lung, heart or breathing problems.

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A healthy blood is always a shade of red in colour, the colour changes to dark red in deoxygenated blood. For fairer skins, the colour of the skin obscures the colour of blood making it look pink to the eye. When the blood turns dark red due to inadequate supply of oxygen to it, the skin appears to be purple or blue depending on the colour shade of blood and colour tone of skin

Keeping adequately warm, hydrated and moisturised is a sufficient way of managing or avoiding it but since the causes of purple lips can be other underlying medical complications; it is best not ignore any occurrences. Most of the time, the tongue, fingernails, and the visible veins changes colour too.

Common treatment of purple lips include having proper insulation from the cold; surgery, if it is caused by heart compilations; chemotherapy, to remove the cancerous cells if it caused by cancer of the lungs; using anti coagulating pills to thin the blood if caused by pulmonary embolism; proper hydration, in case of dehydration; the use of right balms to keep the lips moisturised and exercise to warm up the body.

Experts have suggested that medical help should be sought immediately if a person has purple lips and one or two of these listed symptoms. They are:

• Difficulty in breathing or inability to take deep breaths
• Chest pain or tightness of chest muscles
• Fever
• Coughing up dark mucus
• Muscles strain
• Headaches
• Drowsiness or dizziness
• Hunched over shoulders with in the sitting position
• Tiredness
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability
• Limp or lifeless body
• Flaring of the nostrils while breathing

Eating balanced meals and keeping healthy lifestyle increases the body's power to fight abnormalities and boosts the natural insulation abilities. This might also be a great preventive measure against cold weather caused purple lips.

The Causes of Purple Lips

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