Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
purple lips
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
purple lips
by jan, Aug 27, 2001 12:00AM
My cardio told me I have a healthy heart, although I do have mild mvp, mild mr and tr, IST and NCS (and being evaluated for another possible cause of syncope). I am taking Toprol XL 50 mg and salt tabs, and I take supplements. I exercise reg., too.
My family has told me a few times about my lips being purple. My lips seem to be pale most of the time to begin with, but occasionally they get white and (mostly) purple. My brother who is an EMT said it isn't normal and I should tell my dr.(but my bro. hasn't actually seen my lips like that). Do you know of anything that might cause this? Thanks.
My family has told me a few times about my lips being purple. My lips seem to be pale most of the time to begin with, but occasionally they get white and (mostly) purple. My brother who is an EMT said it isn't normal and I should tell my dr.(but my bro. hasn't actually seen my lips like that). Do you know of anything that might cause this? Thanks.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-CRC, Aug 27, 2001 12:00AM
Dear jan,
Low oxygen content of the blood can cause blue lips. This can be due to low blood counts or due to problems with oxygenation of the blood. It would be interesting to know what your blood oxygen saturation is during the episodes. Do they last for very long? If so then your brother may have time to come over to your house to check with a saturation monitor (many EMTs have this equipment). If it is low then your doctor would have to look for sources of low blood oxygen such as blood clots, sickle cell disease or other hemoglobin abnormalities. A hematologist could check for these various disorders.
Low oxygen content of the blood can cause blue lips. This can be due to low blood counts or due to problems with oxygenation of the blood. It would be interesting to know what your blood oxygen saturation is during the episodes. Do they last for very long? If so then your brother may have time to come over to your house to check with a saturation monitor (many EMTs have this equipment). If it is low then your doctor would have to look for sources of low blood oxygen such as blood clots, sickle cell disease or other hemoglobin abnormalities. A hematologist could check for these various disorders.
Member Comments (1)
by minnie10, Jan 15, 2009 09:29PM
A related discussion, bruising on lips was started.
by mari20, Mar 28, 2009 02:45AM
A related discussion, What's causing Purple lips and Shortness of breath was started.
