Skin discoloration - bluish

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Cyanosis of the nail bed

Overview Treatment

Skin discoloration - bluish

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 you have any unexplained changes in the color of your skin or mucous membranes.

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:

• When did it develop?
• Did it develop suddenly?
• Has it been developing slowly?
• Are the lips blue?
• Are the nailbeds blue?
• Is the body blue all over?
• Have you had an exposure to cold?
• Have you suddenly gone to a high altitude?
• Have you inhaled anything?
• What other symptoms are also present?
• Is there difficulty breathing?
• Is there ankle, feet, and leg swelling?
• Is there a cough?
• Is there chest pain?

• Arterial blood gas analysis
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Chest x-ray
• ECG
• Measurement of blood oxygen by pulse oximetry

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