Cyanosis can be defined as the discoloration of the skin and the change of mucous membrane into blue or purplish color.
This is a disease in which you can see the color of your hands or feet turn bluish. This is caused due to low oxygen saturation in the tissues near the skin surface.
After going through this article you will be able to understand blue hand disease known as Peripheral Cyanosis and the ways in which you can cure it.
Table of Contents
Causes Of Cyanosis
It is mainly caused when the oxygen level in the red blood cells is significantly low or when the body is unable to have the flow of oxygenated blood.
Some of the other causes are as mentioned below:
a. Hypovolemia– A condition in which you will experience less blood circulation in your body.
b. Venus insufficiency– A condition which is mainly caused by low blood circulation through your veins.
c. Arterial insufficiency – A condition which is mainly caused by slow blood flow through your veins.
d. Heart failure.
e. Wearing too tight clothes or jewelry.
f. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
g. Lymphedema
h. Improper diet instead of a diet rich in oxygen.
i. If your body has low hemoglobin and you may suffer from anemia.
Disorders Caused By Cyanosis
If you are suffering from cyanosis, you may also suffer from some serious health issues. They are:
1. Heart Disease
The causes may be due to any of the following reasons-
- If there is an issue with your heart valves.
- Your heart has a thick wall of ventricles.
- You suffer from rapid breathing and heartbeat.
2. Tetralogy Of Fallot (TOF)
It is the most common cause of cyanosis. It happens when there is a hole between the right and the left ventricles of your heart. This leads to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood and the mixture is pumped throughout the body.
Symptoms Of Cyanosis
The symptoms that a patient of cyanosis may exhibit are:
1. Chest Pain
Cyanosis may cause chest pain. Pulmonary edema causes an aching chest tightening sensation.
2. Weakness
If you are suffering from cyanosis, you may experience weaknesses also. You may feel tired all the time and your body will demand rest. You may feel restlessness.
3. Rapid Breathing
If you notice that your breathing is not normal, you may be suffering from cyanosis. It means that when you suffer from cyanosis, you breath faster than usual which may cause heart murmurs. ( You will hear unusual sound during a heartbeat).
4. Low Birth Weight
When you notice that your babies weight is lower than usual. It has been found that newborn babies may have as low weight as 5 pounds if they suffer from cyanosis but actually it should be 8 pounds.
5. Delayed Growth
If your newborn is suffering from cyanosis, his body growth may be delayed. His body will take more time to grow and this may lead to some health problems in future.
Diagnosis Of Cyanosis
The good news is that there is no need to worry if you suffer from this disease because there is an effective treatment for cyanosis.
You have to make sure that you are in contact with professional doctors for the treatment of cyanosis. You know that cyanosis is an underlying disease and it needs sincere treatment.
Diagnosis of cyanosis includes performing some tests, studying the medical history of the patient and a regular visit to a physician.
Medical History Of Cyanosis
During the session of studying your medical history, you have to undergo various questions which will be asked by your physician so that he/she can understand your problems.
- You will be asked about blue coloration. When did it develop on your body? You will be asked whether your lips, tongue and nails have turned bluish or not.
- Whether it was due to cold?
- Have you taken any poisonous substance or drugs?
- In past, did you suffer from any disease or not.
These are some questions which are asked frequently to know about your medical history in a better way. Thereafter, your physician may start your treatment for cyanosis. You have to undergo various tests for cyanosis.
Tests For Cyanosis
1. Arterial Blood Gas Analysis And Blood Oxygen Saturation By Pulse Oximetry
This is the most common test you have to undergo if you suffer from cyanosis. This test is mainly performed to check the amount of oxygen present in your arterial blood.
2. Blood Count
This is prescribed to count red blood cells, low hemoglobin etc.
3. ECG
To detect heart rate.
Treatment For Cyanosis
1. Warming Up
It is often seen that cyanosis is caused due to cold. Thus warming up the affected area can cure your disease. You have to mainly warm up your fingers and toes.
2. Surgery
In some major case, you have to undergo surgery as it causes heart defects. For example, if your newborn is suffering from cyanosis because of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), he may need surgery soon after the birth. But if your baby has a minor condition than it can be performed after six months.
3. Oxygenation
As you know that cyanosis is caused due to lack of oxygen level and for that, you need stabilized oxygenation. In some cases, you might require breathing machine or ventilator.
4. Drugs
Drugs can be helpful for you to reduce the excess accumulation of fluids which is known as diuretics.
If there are chances of heart failure or if you are suffering from cyanotic heart disease, you need drugs which will help your heart pump harder.
5. Immunization
Immunization is really important for you as well as it is helpful for children suffering from congenital heart diseases because it will prevent your body from an infection and your body will be free from germs and infections. In some cases, an injection may also work.
How Critical Are Blue Fingernails In Your Case?
You can find some important warning sign which your fingernails might be showing and you can judge how critical it is in your case.
1. Redness Around Your Nails
If you notice that your nail bud has turned red instead of pink as it should be, then it indicates that you may be suffering from severe heart disease.
2. If You Have Thick And Overgrown Nails
If you notice that your fingernails have become thicker than usual or your nails grow faster than usual when you have a chance of getting fungal nail infection.
3. If Your Nail Colour Changes To Bluish
If you notice that your nail turns bluish or purple, then you may be suffering from hypoxia which is due to lack of oxygen.
4. Discolored Nails
If you notice that your nails are discoloring, you might be suffering from fungal infections, jaundice or hypoxia which is mainly due to lack of oxygen.
These are some cases where you can find out how critical your case is. You should try to contact a physician as soon as possible and start your treatment for cyanosis.
5. If You Are Suffering From Breathing Problems
If you notice that you are breathing fast or you are having trouble in breathing, you may be suffering from cyanosis. In this situation, you should try to breathe in an open environment as your body lacks oxygen.
6. If You Suffer From Pain
If you notice that you are suffering from pain in your joints and chest, it could be a sign that you are suffering from cyanosis.
Home Remedies To Treat Cyanosis
If you are suffering from cyanosis, you don’t have to worry because there are some simple home remedies which can help cure cyanosis.
1. Foods Rich In Oxygen
What Do You Need?
- Food items rich in oxygen
What To Do?
If you want to cure cyanosis, you need to stabilize the oxygen level in blood as needed by your body. For achieving this, you need to add foods that are rich in oxygen in your diet like fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. You should try to avoid oily and unhealthy foods.
2. Supplements
What Do You Need?
- Micronutrient supplements.
What To Do?
You should consume foods which are rich in calcium and vitamins. Try to take more citrus fruits. You should also take supplements but only if it is prescribed by your physician. This will protect your red blood cells which carry oxygen throughout your body.
3. Green Herbs
What Do You Need?
- HERBS, yes the green herbs.
What To Do?
Use natural herbs and products which will help to boost your blood circulation in your body.
4. Oxygen
What Is Needed?
- Home oxygen is the best home remedy.
How To Use?
Use oxygen cylinder or oxygen therapy at home. Through this, your body will maintain a good and balanced oxygen level as required.
5. Natural Tea
What Do You Need?
- Tea, but not in a way you must be naturally having it.
Then How?
Add tea to your diet which will help improve your heart condition. It means that by doing so, you will have lower chances of suffering from a heart disease and will have normal heartbeat along with good blood circulation throughout your body.
6. Aloe Vera
What Do You Need?
- Aloevera,the natural multi-purpose medicine.
How To Use It?
Add aloe vera to your diet twice a day. You can apply the gelfluid to your nails or where there is bluish colour as it will aid in fadingthe bluish colour.
7. Raw Honey
What Do You Need?
- Honey, but make sure you use raw honey and not the processed one.
How To Use It?
If you are suffering from cyanosis, you can consume honey. It will help in killing the germs and help your skin to restoreits original tone/color.
8. Milk And Turmeric
What Do You Need?
- Milk
- Turmeric
How To Use It?
You can make a paste and apply it on your fingers which will help in bringing it back to its original tone. You can also take a glass of milk and turmeric as a drink which will help in killing all the bacteria and germs present in your body.
How To Prevent Cyanosis?
Now you know that you may suffer from this disease if you lack oxygen in your body.Therefore, you should try to have an oxygen-rich diet so that you don’t suffer from this disease.
Do’s And Don’ts
- Always give correct information about your disease.
- Take only those medicines which are prescribed by your physician.
- Don’t try to take more medicines than your
- Make a regular visit to your physician.
- Follow the diet prepared by your physician.
- Try to avoid oily and unhealthy foods.
- Don’t perform heavy
Specific Diets For Cyanosis Patient
- Avoid foods rich in fat and cholesterol.
- Eat 2 fruits every day. Try to take more citrus fruits.
- Drink 12-15 glasses of water a day.
- Eat vegetables which are rich in oxygen level.
- Add whole grain food items to your diet and have them twice a day.
- Avoid beverages.
Yoga For Cyanosis Patient
1. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
- You have to stand with the help of your toe touching parallel. Lift and spread your toes.
- Firm your thigh muscles and kneecap should be lifted without touching your lower belly.
- Press your shoulder blades back and widen them across and release them to your back.
- With the upper side of your chin parallel to the floor balance the crown of your head directly over the center of the pelvis. Soften your eyes and breathe easy
2. Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)
- Stand straight with arms by the side of your body.
- Now bend your right knee and place it to left just above the left leg. Make balance and ensure that your legs are straight.
- Slowly bring your palms together in “Namaste” position. Breathe slowly.
- Now slowly bring down your palm and knee in original position and repeat the same with your left knee. You feel relaxed and fresh.
3. Ardha Pincha Mayurasana
- Place your forearms on the ground. Ensure that your shoulders and elbows are on the same
- Now lift your back and hips and make your leg straight.
- Free your neck by lifting your shoulders away from ears.
- Walk towards your arms.
- As you hold the pose take 2-3 long and deep breath for few seconds. After this come back to your original position.
These are some popular yoga exercises which you can perform to boost up blood circulation in your body. These yoga exercises also help to cure heart diseases.
FAQ’S
There are some common questions which are often asked by cyanosis patients as mentioned below:
1. What Are The Tests To Be Conducted When Suffering From Cyanosis?
As many of you are not aware of cyanosis so there are common questions from a patient so as to decide about what are the tests to be conducted to cure this disease.
2. How Much Time Is Required For Recovery From The Disease?
This is the most common question all of you ask about the disease. The simple answer is that it takes some time.
3. What Is The Diet Plan?
Many people suffering from cyanosis just go with a wrong diet plan but there are some patients who ask for a diet plan during cyanosis.
4. Is This Disease Harmful To Their Health?
Many of you are stressed and worry about their disease. Some often ask if cyanosis is affecting their health. Well, your body will be affected for a while.
5. Does Cyanosis Affect Your Body?
Yes. You may fall sick, feel weak, tired and you may suffer from body pain.
Final Talk
At last, I would like to say that cyanosis is not a dangerous disease. As you know it is mainly caused due to lack of oxygen and hemoglobin, you don’t have to worry about it because there is a safe treatment for this disease.
Thus I would like to advise you to follow the instructions given by your physician for your speedy recovery.
