Cyanosis definition

Overview Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which too little oxygen is delivered to your cells. Oxygen is carried through your bloodstream by hemoglobin, a protein that’s attached to your red blood cells. Normally, hemoglobin then releases that oxygen to cells throughout your body. However, there’s a specific type of hemoglobin known as methemoglobin that carries oxygen through your blood but doesn’t release it to the cells. If your body produces too much methemoglobin, it can begin to replace your normal hemoglobin. This can lead to not enough oxygen getting to your cells. There are two types of methemoglobinemia: acquired and congenital. Keep reading to learn more about what causes each type of methemoglobinemia, plus its symptoms and treatment. Symptoms of methemoglobinemia may vary depending on which type you have. The main symptoms are: • cyanosis, which describes a bluish color of the skin, especially the lips and fingers • chocolate-brown colored blood It’s because of cyanosis that some people call methemoglobinemia “baby blue syndrome.” As methemoglobin levels increase, symptoms continue to get more serious. These can include: • headache • shortness of breath • nausea • rapid heart rate • fatigue and lethargy • confusion or stupor • loss of consciousness Methemoglobinemia can be congenital, which means you’re born with the condition. Congenital methemoglobinemia is caused by a genetic defect that you inherit from your parents. This genetic defect leads to a d...

• Chest pain • Dizziness or fainting • Excessive sweating • Fever • Headache • Pain or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, or toes • Shortness of breath and/or other breathing issues • White or pale appearance in the arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, or toes (a sign of obstructed blood flow) • Arterial insufficiency: Sluggishness/stoppage of blood flow to the arteries • • Heart failure, which affects the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to the body • • Lymphedema, which causes dysfunction in the lymphatic system, resulting in swelling in the arms or legs and fluid retention in the fingers or toes • Raynaud’s phenomenon, which causes restricted blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and/or nose in response to cold or stress • • Septic shock, a life-threatening situation in which a body-wide infection causes extremely low blood pressure • Low levels of oxygen in the blood cause peripheral cyanosis. The reasons behind this can vary widely, from severe low blood pressure to blood clots to heart failure. Diagnosis Bluish skin usually isn't a serious condition. However, any time skin color does not return to normal after warming and massaging, it's important to learn the cause.

Cyanosis is where your skin or lips turn blue or grey. It can be a sign of a serious problem. How to tell if you have blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) If you have cyanosis, you may notice a blue or grey colour on your: • lips • tongue • gums • skin (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet) • ears • under your nails Your hands and feet are usually a normal temperature unless you also have poor blood circulation. • your or your child's fingers, toes, hands and feet are blue or grey This may be a sign of poor blood circulation. You can call 111 or Causes of blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) Blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) happens when there's not enough oxygen in your blood, or you have poor blood circulation. It can be caused by a serious problem with the: • lungs, like • airways like choking or • heart, like heart failure or congenital heart disease Other causes of cyanosis include: • • • a • being in cold air or water • wearing clothing or jewellery that's too tight Treatment for blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) Cyanosis is a symptom of many different conditions. Treatment depends on the cause.

Overview Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which too little oxygen is delivered to your cells. Oxygen is carried through your bloodstream by hemoglobin, a protein that’s attached to your red blood cells. Normally, hemoglobin then releases that oxygen to cells throughout your body. However, there’s a specific type of hemoglobin known as methemoglobin that carries oxygen through your blood but doesn’t release it to the cells. If your body produces too much methemoglobin, it can begin to replace your normal hemoglobin. This can lead to not enough oxygen getting to your cells. There are two types of methemoglobinemia: acquired and congenital. Keep reading to learn more about what causes each type of methemoglobinemia, plus its symptoms and treatment. Symptoms of methemoglobinemia may vary depending on which type you have. The main symptoms are: • cyanosis, which describes a bluish color of the skin, especially the lips and fingers • chocolate-brown colored blood It’s because of cyanosis that some people call methemoglobinemia “baby blue syndrome.” As methemoglobin levels increase, symptoms continue to get more serious. These can include: • headache • shortness of breath • nausea • rapid heart rate • fatigue and lethargy • confusion or stupor • loss of consciousness Methemoglobinemia can be congenital, which means you’re born with the condition. Congenital methemoglobinemia is caused by a genetic defect that you inherit from your parents. This genetic defect leads to a d...

• Chest pain • Dizziness or fainting • Excessive sweating • Fever • Headache • Pain or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, or toes • Shortness of breath and/or other breathing issues • White or pale appearance in the arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, or toes (a sign of obstructed blood flow) • Arterial insufficiency: Sluggishness/stoppage of blood flow to the arteries • • Heart failure, which affects the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to the body • • Lymphedema, which causes dysfunction in the lymphatic system, resulting in swelling in the arms or legs and fluid retention in the fingers or toes • Raynaud’s phenomenon, which causes restricted blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and/or nose in response to cold or stress • • Septic shock, a life-threatening situation in which a body-wide infection causes extremely low blood pressure • Low levels of oxygen in the blood cause peripheral cyanosis. The reasons behind this can vary widely, from severe low blood pressure to blood clots to heart failure. Diagnosis Bluish skin usually isn't a serious condition. However, any time skin color does not return to normal after warming and massaging, it's important to learn the cause.

Cyanosis is where your skin or lips turn blue or grey. It can be a sign of a serious problem. How to tell if you have blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) If you have cyanosis, you may notice a blue or grey colour on your: • lips • tongue • gums • skin (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet) • ears • under your nails Your hands and feet are usually a normal temperature unless you also have poor blood circulation. • your or your child's fingers, toes, hands and feet are blue or grey This may be a sign of poor blood circulation. You can call 111 or Causes of blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) Blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) happens when there's not enough oxygen in your blood, or you have poor blood circulation. It can be caused by a serious problem with the: • lungs, like • airways like choking or • heart, like heart failure or congenital heart disease Other causes of cyanosis include: • • • a • being in cold air or water • wearing clothing or jewellery that's too tight Treatment for blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) Cyanosis is a symptom of many different conditions. Treatment depends on the cause.

Overview Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which too little oxygen is delivered to your cells. Oxygen is carried through your bloodstream by hemoglobin, a protein that’s attached to your red blood cells. Normally, hemoglobin then releases that oxygen to cells throughout your body. However, there’s a specific type of hemoglobin known as methemoglobin that carries oxygen through your blood but doesn’t release it to the cells. If your body produces too much methemoglobin, it can begin to replace your normal hemoglobin. This can lead to not enough oxygen getting to your cells. There are two types of methemoglobinemia: acquired and congenital. Keep reading to learn more about what causes each type of methemoglobinemia, plus its symptoms and treatment. Symptoms of methemoglobinemia may vary depending on which type you have. The main symptoms are: • cyanosis, which describes a bluish color of the skin, especially the lips and fingers • chocolate-brown colored blood It’s because of cyanosis that some people call methemoglobinemia “baby blue syndrome.” As methemoglobin levels increase, symptoms continue to get more serious. These can include: • headache • shortness of breath • nausea • rapid heart rate • fatigue and lethargy • confusion or stupor • loss of consciousness Methemoglobinemia can be congenital, which means you’re born with the condition. Congenital methemoglobinemia is caused by a genetic defect that you inherit from your parents. This genetic defect leads to a d...

Cyanosis is where your skin or lips turn blue or grey. It can be a sign of a serious problem. How to tell if you have blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) If you have cyanosis, you may notice a blue or grey colour on your: • lips • tongue • gums • skin (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet) • ears • under your nails Your hands and feet are usually a normal temperature unless you also have poor blood circulation. • your or your child's fingers, toes, hands and feet are blue or grey This may be a sign of poor blood circulation. You can call 111 or Causes of blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) Blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) happens when there's not enough oxygen in your blood, or you have poor blood circulation. It can be caused by a serious problem with the: • lungs, like • airways like choking or • heart, like heart failure or congenital heart disease Other causes of cyanosis include: • • • a • being in cold air or water • wearing clothing or jewellery that's too tight Treatment for blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis) Cyanosis is a symptom of many different conditions. Treatment depends on the cause.

• Chest pain • Dizziness or fainting • Excessive sweating • Fever • Headache • Pain or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, or toes • Shortness of breath and/or other breathing issues • White or pale appearance in the arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, or toes (a sign of obstructed blood flow) • Arterial insufficiency: Sluggishness/stoppage of blood flow to the arteries • • Heart failure, which affects the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to the body • • Lymphedema, which causes dysfunction in the lymphatic system, resulting in swelling in the arms or legs and fluid retention in the fingers or toes • Raynaud’s phenomenon, which causes restricted blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and/or nose in response to cold or stress • • Septic shock, a life-threatening situation in which a body-wide infection causes extremely low blood pressure • Low levels of oxygen in the blood cause peripheral cyanosis. The reasons behind this can vary widely, from severe low blood pressure to blood clots to heart failure. Diagnosis Bluish skin usually isn't a serious condition. However, any time skin color does not return to normal after warming and massaging, it's important to learn the cause.