The Greek word kýanos, which can be translated as “navy blue”, derived in kyánōsis, which refers to a bluish coloration. From this concept comes the Latin cyanosis, the etymological origin of cyanosis.
Cyanosis is the blue hue that the skin acquires when there is a problem with blood circulation. The color change is produced by the c oncentration of lacking hemoglobin oxygen in those blood vessels are located close to the surface of the skin, or by the presence of red blood cells Hemoglobin pigments which are anomalous.
In normal situations, the blood of the human being is red. When such blood is not oxygenated, it appears to turn bluish due to the optical properties of the skin. Along with that optical coloration that we know as cyanosis, a vasoconstriction is usually generated (the blood vessels narrow).
According to DigoPaul, cyanosis, therefore, relates to fabrics with a low concentration of oxygen, since blood is deoxygenated. This is why the skin becomes bluish or dark, as occurs with the mucous membranes and lips in a hypoxic situation.
In order to diagnose cyanosis, the doctor will carry out the following steps:
-He must thoroughly read the medical history of the patient in question.
-You have to observe if the nails, lips or tongue of the person in question have a bluish tone.
-The patient will be asked if they have been subjected to low temperatures or if they have consumed different types of drugs.
-It will be in charge of measuring your blood pressure and the strength of your pulse and even checking your heart rate or the sounds you make when you breathe.
-He will check for fever.
One can distinguish between peripheral cyanosis and central cyanosis. Peripheral cyanosis affects the extremities (including fingers and nails), ears, and nose. It can be treated with elevation of the affected limb or warming of the region to increase oxygenation. Central cyanosis, for its part, can be due to heart or lung problems.
In the same way, we cannot ignore the fact that there are two other types of cyanosis that are worth discovering:
-True cyanosis. Under this name is cyanosis that is considered to disappear when the skin is pressed. Within this category are both central and peripheral cyanosis.
-Pseudocyanosis, which is the one that does not disappear when the skin is tightened. It must be said that it is not frequent and that this pigmentation of the skin takes place as a result of the use of a drug or because of heavy metals.
In addition to everything indicated, we cannot ignore that cyanosis can also occur in newborns. Among the common symptoms they experience are that they get very tired when eating, that they may gain little weight, that they feel weak and even that they are very irritable. Not forgetting either that it is possible that they emit a series of strange noises when performing each breath.
A drug overdose, intercranial hemorrhage, COPD, bronchiolitis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, heart failure, venous obstruction, hypothermia and cerebral hypoxia are some of the possible causes of cyanosis.
