Is purple lips a sign of poor heart health? I haven't seen it!
2026-05-19
Not long ago, the death of a public figure due to sudden cardiac death has attracted widespread attention in society. During his lifetime, he was reminded by netizens to pay attention to heart health when his lips turned purple, which further encouraged people to deeply associate lip color with heart health. Is purple lips necessarily a sign of poor heart health? I haven't seen it either. Experts suggest that lip color is more of a hint. What really needs attention is the changes behind it and the other signals the body is sending out. The latest issue of the "Science" Rumor List has been released, which focuses on debunking recent popular health rumors. The monthly "science" rumor list is jointly released by the Beijing Association of Science and Technology, the Beijing Municipal Committee Cyberspace Office and the Capital Internet Association, and the Beijing Association of Science and Technology Journalists and Editors, and the Beijing regional website platform. The rumor that the joint "clicking" sound is the truth about calcium deficiency is that the joint "clicking" sound (i.e. joint bounce) has nothing to do with whether there is calcium deficiency. Why do joints produce popping sounds? It may be caused by the following three situations: first, the bursting of bubbles in the joint cavity. The joint cavity is a closed cavity, and when the joint is at rest, the pressure inside the cavity is in static equilibrium; When the joint is moving, the negative pressure inside the joint cavity increases, and the joint fluid will produce bubbles; When the joint returns to its original position, the bubble bursts and makes a "click click" sound. Secondly, there is insufficient joint fluid. If the human body lacks activity for a long time and the synovium lacks stimulation, the secretion of joint fluid will decrease. When there is a lack of lubrication and the joint suddenly moves, it may make a popping sound. The third is friction between joint ligaments. If a posture is maintained for a long time, the muscles and ligaments around the joints will be in a tense state; When the joint is active, the ligaments may rub against the joint, causing a clicking sound. If the joint only makes a "click click" sound without obvious pain, swelling, or restricted movement, this situation generally does not require treatment and there is no need to worry excessively. If the joint produces sound accompanied by other symptoms and pathological changes, the patient should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If patients can hear joint friction or "creaking" sounds accompanied by pain, they should immediately stop all activities that may cause joint sounds and seek medical attention promptly. The rumor that hand tremors are Parkinson's disease is true. When it comes to hand tremors, many people associate them with Parkinson's disease, but it may not necessarily be the case. There is also a more common disease - essential tremor, and the two are easily confused. The tremor of Parkinson's disease is a static tremor, which is severe when quiet and not moving, but actually decreases after activity; And idiopathic tremor is a type of movement tremor that only worsens during fine motor movements, generally without symptoms of stiffness and bradykinesia, and poses relatively little harm to health. In addition to idiopathic tremor, hyperthyroidism, liver failure, and taking certain medications may also cause hand tremors. Not only hand tremors, but many non motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease may appear earlier, such as decreased sense of smell, sleep disorders, and long-term constipation, before gradually developing motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, limb stiffness, walking delays, and static tremors. It is worth noting that pathological changes in Parkinson's disease can affect the emotional center of the brain, with over half of patients experiencing depressive symptoms and about 40% experiencing anxiety symptoms. Many patients experience emotional problems before motor symptoms appear. If the elderly experience irritability, apathy, anxiety, and other situations, they need to be vigilant. The misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis rate of Parkinson's disease is relatively high. If middle-aged and elderly people continue to experience the above-mentioned symptoms without relief, they should seek medical attention in a timely manner to avoid self diagnosis and delay of the condition. Mild idiopathic tremor does not require special treatment. If it affects daily life and social interaction, it can be improved through medication or surgery; Although Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, comprehensive treatment such as medication, surgery, and rehabilitation can effectively control symptoms and maintain quality of life. Rumor has it that purple lips indicate poor heart health. There is a belief that purple lips indicate insufficient oxygen supply to the blood, which means there is a problem with the heart. In fact, not all lips that are dark or purple in color indicate abnormal heart function. When deoxyhemoglobin in the blood increases to a certain extent, the peripheral parts of the human body with thinner skin and mucous membranes, abundant capillaries, and less pigment will appear blue purple, which is medically known as "cyanosis". This is a result of the joint participation of multiple systems: the lungs are responsible for gas exchange, and once there is a problem with ventilation or air exchange, blood oxygen levels will decrease; The heart is responsible for circulation, and if there are structural or functional abnormalities, it may allow insufficiently oxygenated blood to enter the systemic circulation; If there are abnormalities in the blood itself, it can also affect the transport and release of oxygen. Therefore, simply attributing purple lips to poor heart function often overlooks a more complete physiological background. In addition, there is no unified standard for lip color itself, and there are significant individual differences in natural lip color, which do not necessarily indicate health issues. More important than color depth is to pay attention to whether there is a significant change in lip color in a short period of time. This shift from "static colors" to "dynamic changes" in observation is often closer to the logic of medical judgment. Instead of guessing diseases through colors, it is better to observe around the following key questions: whether this change is new and whether it persists; Is there a clear trigger, such as coldness or emotional changes; Can it recover after resting or keeping warm; Whether accompanied by shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue and other symptoms; For infants and young children, it is also necessary to pay attention to feeding and growth status. If conditions permit, instruments for measuring blood oxygen can be chosen as auxiliary tools. If blood oxygen continues to be low or accompanied by obvious discomfort, timely medical evaluation should be sought. Rumors suggest that when experiencing diarrhea, one should immediately take antidiarrheal medication. However, the practice of immediately taking antidiarrheal medication and abstaining from food and water is not scientific. Diarrhea is a protective mechanism of the body that can eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and harmful substances entering the gastrointestinal tract, reducing their toxic effects on the human body. Although antidiarrheal drugs can stop diarrhea symptoms, they can cause some harmful substances to remain in the gastrointestinal tract, which is harmful to health after absorption. If diarrhea is frequent, occurring two to three times per hour and accompanied by dehydration symptoms, medical attention should be sought promptly. Special reminder is needed that the common medicine montmorillonite powder is an adsorbent that, after entering the gastrointestinal tract, will adsorb bacteria and corresponding toxins to achieve the effect of stopping diarrhea. If diarrhea does not exceed three times a day, it is not recommended to take montmorillonite powder, as it can easily cause constipation. In addition, doctors recommend not blindly fasting or abstaining from water when experiencing diarrhea. Especially after vomiting and diarrhea, the body is prone to complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hypoglycemia. Prolonged fasting and water deprivation can exacerbate these complications. When diarrhea occurs, patients can eat some starch foods that are easy to absorb, such as porridge, noodles, etc. In fact, regardless of the cause of diarrhea, it is recommended to take oral rehydration therapy first. This can quickly replenish the fluid lost in the gastrointestinal tract due to diarrhea and flush out harmful food residues in the gastrointestinal tract as soon as possible. When experiencing mild diarrhea, it is recommended to prioritize the use of oral rehydration salts, mix according to the instructions, and drink small amounts multiple times, which is more effective than simply drinking plain water. Doctors remind that if diarrhea persists and does not improve, such as persistent high fever, diarrhea more than 5 times a day, obvious dehydration, bloody or purulent stools, immediate medical attention should be sought; If infants, elderly people, pregnant women, or patients with chronic underlying diseases experience frequent diarrhea, it is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The rumor is that rice cookers can keep warm for a long time without growing bacteria. The truth is that rice cookers at home are not fresh-keeping containers. Even if the lid is not opened, prolonged insulation may lead to bacterial growth and pose a threat to health. The World Health Organization has defined the temperature range of 5 ° C to 60 ° C as the "danger zone" for food, during which bacteria in food are most active in reproduction. The "insulation" function of a rice cooker is generally maintained at 60 ° C to 70 ° C, but the food inside the rice cooker is often unevenly heated, and the upper part of the food that comes into contact with the air can easily drop below 60 ° C, falling into the "dangerous temperature zone" for bacterial growth. In addition, there are air holes above the rice cooker, which does not belong to a closed environment. If the rice is opened halfway, bacteria can easily be brought in during this process; When keeping the rice cooker warm, some heat-resistant bacteria can still survive and reproduce, and even produce pathogenic toxins. Therefore, to ensure food safety, doctors suggest that rice that cannot be eaten should be refrigerated within 2 hours; Keep the rice cooker warm for no more than 4 hours; When consuming leftover rice, it must be thoroughly heated. In addition, after daily use of rice cookers, they should be cleaned in a timely manner to avoid residue residue, especially paying attention to exhaust holes, sealing gaskets, and other parts. Rumor has it that sulfur soap is a "universal soap for skin diseases". Many people believe that sulfur soap can "gently remove mites" and "cure acne", and can be used as a "universal soap for skin diseases". In fact, sulfur soap is not as "magical" as some claims suggest. Sulfur soap can be used under the guidance of professional doctors for the treatment of specific skin diseases such as folliculitis and mild mite infections. But sulfur soap is not suitable for daily face washing and care. Because sulfur soap itself is alkaline and highly irritating, while our skin is normally weakly acidic, long-term use may disrupt the normal acid-base balance of the skin, causing damage to the skin barrier, especially in the face and sensitive areas. Therefore, milder cleaning products should be chosen. The skin requires a certain amount of oil to maintain health, and excessive cleansing can have the opposite effect. If discomfort such as dryness, stinging, and redness occurs, immediately stop using irritating products and let the skin recover on its own. Experts suggest using sulfur soap correctly according to one's own situation: 1. Use after testing. Before the first use, apply a small area behind the ear or inside the arm and observe for 24 hours. If redness, swelling, itching, or pain occur, stop immediately and wash. 2. Control the usage time and frequency. Even for people with oily skin or skin problems, it is best to use it "intermittently", such as 2 to 3 times a week, and pause after symptoms subside to avoid damage to the skin barrier. After applying during cleaning, leave it on the local area for 1 to 2 minutes before rinsing. Do not rub for a long time to prevent sulfur from continuously irritating the skin. 3. Avoid sensitive areas. When using the face, avoid weak areas of the skin such as the eye area, mouth and nose mucosa. And it is forbidden to use it on areas with wounds or ulcers on the skin, otherwise it will cause strong irritation. 4. Strengthen moisturizing and repair. If the oil on the skin surface is lost after use, it is necessary to immediately apply mild moisturizing milk/cream (such as products containing ceramide and vaseline) to repair the skin barrier and reduce dryness. 5. It cannot replace medication treatment. Although sulfur soap has certain bactericidal, mite inhibiting, and oil controlling effects, it is not a drug. If skin symptoms do not improve or worsen, timely medical treatment is necessary. Do not rely on sulfur soap to delay treatment. (Looking into the New Era)