Are Numb Lips a Sign of Stroke? Evaluating the Warning Signs
By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
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By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
Table of Contents
We’ve all experienced numb lips at some point in our lives. But what causes this sensation, and when you should be concerned are essential pieces of information that we need to know. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at various causes of numb lips, symptoms to watch for, and when to consult a doctor. Next, we will explore the possible link between numb lips and strokes, discussing the importance of recognising warning signs and seeking immediate medical attention if necessary. Lastly, we will answer some frequently asked questions about numb lips.
Did you know?
Some foods, drugs, or chemicals can cause lip tingling or swelling. Watch for itchiness, breathing trouble, and hives. If it’s severe and affects the mouth or throat, get immediate help, it’s a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis.
Eating bad food can cause mouth numbness or a tingling feeling. You may also feel sick, vomit, and have diarrhea. With seafood, be extra careful. Fish-related ciguatera poisoning can cause numb lips.
Not getting enough nutrients like vitamin B-12 or folic acid may cause lip tingling and numbness. You might also feel tired, dizzy, and have muscle cramps. Eating a balanced diet helps tackle these problems.
The HSV infection triggers cold sores around the mouth area. It starts with a tingling or itching feeling, followed by a blister forming.
If your blood sugar levels are low, you might get symptoms like tingling lips. Very rapid, deep breathing can cause a similar feeling.
Although rare, shingles can affect nerves in your face, causing mouth and lip numbness.
MS, an autoimmune disease, may cause lip tingling or loss of feeling. Look out for other signs like feeling tired, weak, and having balance issues.
This long-term sickness might damage the nervous system, causing numb lips. Watch out for fever, vision problems, and swelling as well.
This rare disorder attacks the nerves, causing tingling in limbs and face, which might affect lips as well.
Stroke is a serious health problem that cuts off blood flow to the brain. It could make your lips numb; among other signs we have discussed. In this section, we will discuss how to tell stroke signs apart from other causes of numb lips.
The following signs are important to keep an eye on.
A stroke might cause your face or mouth to go weak or droop all of a sudden. If one side droops while smiling, it could mean a stroke.
Sudden numbness, felt only on one side of the body or with a face droop, could signal a stroke. This sets it apart from other causes of numb lips.
If your numb lips come with confused speech, it could mean you’re having a stroke.
Any sudden vision trouble, blurry eyesight, or total loss of sight could be a stroke sign.
A sudden, severe headache, without a clear cause, might signal a stroke.
But as discussed before, allergies, food poisoning, or vitamin deficiencies would rarely cause the symptoms above. If you think a stroke is causing your numb lips, rush to get medical help right away.
We have other causes of numb lips, besides those we have looked at so far which are as follows.
In rare cases, numb lips may mean oral cancer. The disease affects the nerves or blood vessels in the face and mouth. Look for irritation, mouth ulcers, red or white patches, and thickened skin. If these last over two weeks, seek medical advice.
Damaged nerves or cranial nerves may cause face and lip numbness. Sometimes, epilepsy or brain tumors cause a blood-brain barrier breakdown. This triggers seizures and might indirectly lead to numb lips.
Environmental factors like dry lips, biting your lips, or burns from hot or spicy foods can make your lips feel numb. In most cases, there is no need for medical help; the numbness should go away.
Long-term health issues like burning mouth syndrome and Raynaud’s disease can also cause tingling or numbing sensations in the lips.
Cold sores from HSV, shingles complications, or a panic attack may all cause numb lips due to heavy breathing.
Cancer management, dental surgery, or some drugs might have a side effect causing lip numbness.
In most cases, numb lips will resolve on their own. However, you should seek medical assistance in the following scenarios.
If your numb lips come with severe sudden symptoms like trouble speaking, vision problems, feeling lost, paralysis, or strong headaches, seek immediate medical help. This is especially true if they point to a stroke since delaying management could cause long-term harm.
But if your numb lips come with mild, slow, or isolated symptoms, keep monitoring them. If the feeling stays or gets worse, consult your doctor for a checkup and advice on management.
Your healthcare professional will probably examine the affected area in detail, ask you about recent events, and request blood tests, imaging, or a biopsy if necessary to find out why your lips are numb.
Numb lips can confuse and even scare you. As we’ve covered, countless factors can cause this – from mild everyday causes to severe health problems. It’s crucial to identify the symptoms that come with numb lips as they could point to serious conditions like stroke that need quick medical help to avoid long-term harm.
In most cases, lip numbness isn’t a serious sign and often goes away on its own. Still, it’s essential to watch out for changes, get healthcare advice when needed, and live healthily to reduce the risk of health problems.
Keep an eye on other signs and rush to get medical help if you have sudden, strong, or increasing concerns like trouble speaking, vision problems, feeling lost, paralysis, or strong headaches. As a rule, numb lips aren’t serious and should clear up on their own.
Depending on what’s causing it, numb lips could go away by itself or require therapies like allergic drugs, vitamin supplements, or life changes. Consult a healthcare professional for advice that suits you.
Stroke often causes one arm to go numb – this usually happens on the same side as the face droop or weak leg. Get emergency medical help if you think you’re having a stroke.
Yes, worry can cause hyperventilation or panic attacks, which might result in numb lips or mouth. Knowing calming methods and getting the right mental health support may help ease these symptoms.
Depending on the cause, lip numbness may last a few hours or days for allergies or small injuries. For stroke or vitamin deficiencies, you might need longer therapy and time to recover. Always consult a healthcare professional for an accurate check of your symptoms.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
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Last updated: Jun 28, 2024
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