27. Bluish Lips, Skin, or Fingernails (Cyanosis)
When the body does not get enough oxygen, parts of the skin — especially the lips, fingertips, or nail beds — may turn bluish or purplish. This is called cyanosis. In heart failure, it usually means that the lungs are filled with fluid, preventing enough oxygen from entering the blood.
Patients with cyanosis often look ill and may complain of breathlessness or fatigue. The change in skin color is usually most visible in cooler weather, but in severe cases, it appears constantly.
Consider Mrs. Amaranda, a 68-year-old homemaker, who noticed her lips turning bluish during winter. At first, her family thought it was due to the cold. But when the blueness remained and she began coughing pink sputum, she was taken to the hospital. Doctors explained that her oxygen levels were dangerously low due to heart failure. With oxygen therapy and medication, her symptoms improved.
Bluish skin is never normal. Families should act quickly if they notice this symptom, especially alongside shortness of breath. It indicates that the body is starved of oxygen, and emergency treatment is needed.