Why does cyanosis occur

Common Health Topics. Symptoms of Lung Disorders. Test your knowledge. Coughing up blood from the respiratory tract is called hemoptysis. Which of the following is the most likely cause of hemoptysis in adults? More Content. Was This Page Helpful? Yes No. Shortness of Breath. Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn. If normal colour does not return when your skin is rubbed or warmed, it is important to get medical attention right away to determine the cause.

The physical examination performed by your doctor will include listening to your heart and lungs. You may also have to undergo a series of other clinical tests. Apart from the clinical assessment of hypoxemia, the diagnosis of Cyanosis may also include the following investigations:.

The treatment involves identifying and correcting the underlying cause in order to restore the oxygenated blood flow to the affected parts of the body. Receiving proper treatment in a timely manner will improve the outcome and limit any complications.

It is important that any medication in Cyanosis Treatment should always be under the prescription and guidance of a registered medical practitioner. You may also need to avoid certain medications that constrict blood vessels as a side effect. These include types of:. Serious medical situations, such as heart or pulmonary related conditions, should be treated in a hospital as an emergency.

These include avoiding caffeine and nicotine, both of which can cause your blood vessels to constrict. What is Cyanosis? Cyanosis is generally a medical condition in which there's a blue tint to the skin, indicating the body is not receiving enough oxygen-rich blood.

What is cyanosis a symptom of? Cyanosis occurs when oxygen-depleted deoxygenated blood, which is bluish rather than red, circulates through the skin. Cyanosis can be caused by many types of severe lung or heart disease that cause levels of oxygen in the blood to be low. What are the principal reasons for cyanosis? The three primary reasons of cyanosis include - Decreased pumping of blood by the heart or reduced cardiac output often seen in heart failure or circulatory shock; Diseases of circulation like thrombosis or embolism, and constriction of blood vessels of the limbs, fingers, and toes due to exposure to cold, spasm of the smaller skin capillaries or arteries called acrocyanosis.

The other leading causes of Cyanosis in both adults and newborns include:. On the other hand, patients with chronic obstructive lung disease or COPD often develop cyanosis gradually over many years. To determine if the cyanosis is mild or severe can be done by analyzing the following:. In general, cyanosis is known to worsen with activity, and only proper resting can one bring it down. Dark skin complexion and the presence of anemia can often make it hard for the parents and doctors alike to recognize signs of mild cyanosis.

In situations like these, a purple or blue tongue is the sign of a medical emergency. Seeking emergency medical aid if the tongue is discoloured, appears suddenly or is even seen to be accompanied by:.

Skip to main content. Narayana Health » Cyanosis. NH cares Cyanosis Blue colouration of lips, feet, body :.

Diagnosis and treatment. Types of Cyanosis. Central Cyanosis Central Cyanosis is a blue discoloration seen on the tongue and lips, and is due to lower levels of oxygen in the Central arterial blood; caused by cardiac or respiratory disorders. Peripheral Cyanosis Peripheral Cyanosis is a blue or purple skin discoloration of the extremities, viz. Differential Cyanosis Differential or Mixed Cyanosis is diagnosed when the bluish discoloration is present in certain parts of the body and absent in others.

Causes of Cyanosis. Central Cyanosis Causes Central Cyanosis is very often caused by a circulatory or ventilatory issue. Central Cyanosis may be caused by the following issues: 1. Central nervous system related conditions impairing normal ventilation : Intracranial haemorrhage Drug overdose e.

Respiratory system related conditions: Pneumonia Bronchiolitis Bronchospasm e. Cardiovascular disease related conditions: Congenital heart disease Failure of the heart Valvular heart condition Myocardial infarction condition 4.

Blood-related conditions: Methemoglobinemia Polycythaemia Congenital Cyanosis 5. Other conditions: High altitude may trigger off Cyanosis, which may be observed when ascending to altitudes over mts Hypothermia Obstructive sleep apnea Peripheral Cyanosis Causes Peripheral Cyanosis is a bluish tint observed in the fingers or toes, caused by suboptimal or restricted blood circulation.

Peripheral Cyanosis could sometimes occur due to the following: All the common causes of Central Cyanosis Reduced cardiac output e. Peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud phenomenon Venous obstruction e. Symptoms of Cyanosis. Age-related and the nature of Cyanosis onset: Cyanosis caused by congenital heart disease, which in turn causes anatomical right-to-left shunts, that may have been prevalent from birth or the early years of life.

Acute onset ofCyanosis, which could be caused by conditions like pulmonary emboli, cardiac failure, pneumonia or asthma. People suffering from COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease may develop Cyanosis over time and an associated condition called polycythaemia may exacerbate the intensity of Cyanosis. Associated symptoms: Pain in the chest : Cyanosis that is associated with pleuritic chest pains could be caused by pulmonary embolism or pneumonia.

Pulmonary oedema could cause dull, painful chest tightness. Dyspnoea: this is a condition that may suddenly occur in conjunction with pulmonary emboli, pulmonary oedema or asthma. Gasping for or shortness of breathing difficulties Fever Headache Profuse sweating profusely Pain or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, fingers, or toes Paling or whitening of the arms, legs, hands, fingers, or toes Dizziness or fainting. Temperature: conditions like pneumonia and pulmonary emboli that could be with pyrexia.

The patient will also exhibit symptoms like: Central Cyanosis - this condition produces a bluish discolouration, specially noticed on the mucous membranes of the lips, tongue, fingers and toes. Peripheral Cyanosis - this condition affects the fingers, toes and skin surrounding the lips, is not noticed around mucous membranes.

A combination of clubbing and Cyanosis is frequent observed in congenital heart disease; it may be prevalent in pulmonary diseases, like lung abscess, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis; as also in pulmonary arteriovenous shunts. Pressure in the jugular venous system increases with congestive cardiac failure.

After a respiratory examination: Poor chest expansion is a condition that is noticed in patients with chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Reduced chest expansion may be noticed with conditions like lobar pneumonia. Dullness to percussion is sometimes noticed in an area of consolidation.

Crepitation that is localised may sometimes be heard in conditions like lobar pneumonia. All of these abnormalities cause blue oxygen poor blood to get pumped to the body. Questions and Answers What is normal blood circulation? What is cyanotic heart disease? Does all congenital heart disease cause cyanosis in children?

Some examples are: Transposition of the great arteries TGA : Cyanosis occurs because the aorta the big blood vessel that carries red blood to the body and pulmonary artery big blood vessel that carries blue blood to the lungs are coming from the wrong ventricles. In transposition of the great arteries, blue blood returns normally to the right side of the heart; however, it is pumped back to the body via the aorta.

On the opposite side, red blood returns normally to the left side of the heart; however, it is pumped back to the lungs via the pulmonary artery. This abnormal route of blood results in blue blood being pumped back to the body without ever going to the lungs to get oxygen and turn red, resulting in cyanosis. Tetralogy of Fallot TOF : Cyanosis occurs in TOF when there is a major obstruction on the right side of the heart that prevents blue blood oxygen poor from getting into the lungs via the pulmonary artery.

Because of the obstruction, blue blood is diverted across a hole in the bottom ventricular chambers of the heart, known as a ventricular septal defect, or VSD, and travels out of the heart to the rest of the body, causing cyanosis. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return TAPVR : Cyanosis occurs in this lesion because red blood oxygen rich returning from the lungs takes an abnormal or anomalous course back to the heart.

Instead of returning to the left side of the heart and being pumped directly to the body, it returns to the right side of the heart first. The red blood then mixes with blue blood resulting in a purple mix of blood mix of oxygen poor and rich.

That blood passes through a hole in the top chambers, known as an atrial septal defect, and then to the left side of the heart. The purple mixed blood results in cyanosis. There is a hole in the bottom chambers, known as a ventricular septal defect, or VSD, and blue blood mixes with red blood to make a purple mix of blood oxygen poor and rich before it is pumped out to the rest of the body.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome HLHS : Cyanosis occurs in HLHS because red oxygen rich blood does not flow immediately to the body from the left side of the heart because it is extremely small hypoplastic.

Instead, red blood returning from the lungs on the left side is mixed with blue blood on the right side via a hole in the top chambers known as an atrial septal defect, or ASD.

The blood is then pumped to the lungs via the pulmonary artery. A connecting vessel that is present in the baby from fetal life, known as a patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, directs blood into the aorta and out to the body. How can I tell if my child has cyanosis? What do I do if I think my child has cyanosis?

How is cyanosis diagnosed? How is cyanosis treated? Locations Close to Home. Give Today.