| Alternative Names:
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| Lips - bluish; Fingernails - bluish; Cyanosis; Bluish lips and fingernails; Bluish skin |
| Home Care:
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| For cyanosis caused by exposure to cold, dress warmly when going outside or stay in a well-heated room. |
| Call your health care provider if:
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Call your health care provider if you have any unexplained changes in the color of your skin or mucous membranes.
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| What to expect at your health care provider's office:
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Your health care provider will perform a physical examination, which includes listening to your breathing and heart sounds. In emergency situations (such as shock), the patient will be stabilized first.
Medical history questions may include:
- time pattern
- When did it develop?
- Did it develop suddenly?
- Has it been developing slowly?
- quality
- Are the lips blue?
- Are the nailbeds blue?
- Is the body blue all over?
- aggravating factors
- Have you had an exposure to cold?
- Have you suddenly gone to a high altitude?
- Have you inhaled anything?
- other
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
For shortness of breath and cyanosis, supplemental oxygen may be administered.
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