Bluish Fingernails - Asthma Message Board

Tayah · 09-13-2004, 08:47 PM

hi

I plan to post this on the heart and lung board, but I wanted to check here as well. My two thumbnails are shaded purplish-blue from the center of the nail to about a third from the edge. The left one is darker than the right one. I checked on Webmd, and they suggest that asthma may be the reason. I do have asthma and am taking meds for them, though I haven't used the meds for about a month now.
Does anyone else suffer from bluish fingernails?

Tayah

bluebanana · 09-14-2004, 03:10 PM

Bluish fingernails in an asthmatic is not a good sign!
If your chest is tight or you feel that you are not getting enough air, go to the ER now! I don't want to scare you, but it could be a sign that you aren't getting enough oxygen in your blood and you need treatment. Try taking your rescue inhaler and see if it helps.
Take care
Blue
PS. I get a bit blue around the edges too, hence the name!!

reader1 · 09-14-2004, 04:08 PM

If it's only two fingernails, I'd ask your doctor about it. If your chest is tight and you're having trouble breathing and all your fingernails are dark or blue (really, the fingernail beds), then you need to get treatment immediately.

Blondee15 · 09-14-2004, 09:14 PM

Blue fingernails from asthma usually doesn't come as just 2 nails, it's usually all of your nails & your lips will take on a bluish hue, not a dark purple blue. I got that when I had pneumonia last year from all the coughing & gasping for air.. I would say it sounds like something else, but if you are having asthma symptoms, seek treatment right away.