5. Blue Lips and Headaches
Most patients with COPD and emphysema experience a lack of available oxygen in the bloodstream. As the lungs expand and the disease progresses, the alveoli become less efficient at the gaseous exchange of oxygen and CO2.
A lack of circulating oxygen has a detrimental effect on your physical and mental health. Patients suffering from emphysema may notice that their lips turn blue during the day. They may also find they wake up with a headache first thing in the morning. These symptoms occur due to the lack of oxygen available, and the extremities of the body don’t receive enough oxygen. As a result, the lips turn blue and morning headaches begin to surface.
Patients in this stage of the disease often feel like they may pass out after strenuous activity, such as walking up a flight of stairs. The individual requires treatment with exogenous oxygen to flood their body with adequate levels of oxygen and relieve the symptoms.