Physiological changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy

1. Physiological reasons
2. Dental reasons
3. Paresthesia of the lips due to damage or inflammation of the trigeminal nerve
4. Numbness due to migraine with aura
5. Numb lips due to stroke
6. Numb lips due to diabetes
7. Numb lips due to allergies
8. Shingles
9. Neuroses and multiple sclerosis
10. Anemia
11. Diagnosis and treatment

Lip paresthesia (numbness) is a condition in which tissue sensitivity decreases or disappears.
This process may be accompanied by tingling or other sensations. Numbness of the lips occurs for physiological reasons and is one of the symptoms of a certain pathology. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the frequency of occurrence and duration of this condition, its spread to other parts of the face and body. Lips may go numb in people who suffer from neurological and dental diseases, diabetes, anemia, allergies and a number of other diseases. If the symptom occurs frequently, an examination by a dentist and neurologist is recommended to determine the exact cause of the numbness.

Physiological reasons

Tissue sensitivity may decrease upon contact with very hot or cold food or drinks. This happens when a person eats ice cream, drinks tea or coffee that is too hot, or eats too spicy food. A similar phenomenon is observed outside in cold weather. The skin of the lips becomes chapped, cracks appear, and sensitivity decreases. Physiological numbness in most cases does not cause harm to health. As soon as contact with the irritant ceases, tissue sensitivity is restored.

To avoid the negative consequences of low-temperature exposure, you should use lipsticks and balms that will protect the skin from chapping and painful cracks.

Another possible cause of tissue numbness is cosmetic and cosmetic procedures. For example, lip products with red pepper extract may cause a slight burning sensation or numbness of the tissues. Some women experience a decrease in lip sensitivity after tattooing if the procedure was performed incorrectly or the wrong lip care was chosen after it.

Dear men, loving husbands!

Remember that your pregnant wife is an “unusual” person the entire time she is carrying your child. That is why a loving husband should not allow his wife to overwork herself with housework. A pregnant woman needs to create favorable conditions so that she can safely bear and give birth to a child, i.e. so that her body can qualitatively adapt to changing conditions as the pregnancy progresses (the baby grows, develops, eats, “breathes,” etc. - conditions are constantly changing).

If a pregnant woman’s body cannot adapt normally, then she will experience various unfavorable conditions, primarily for the child. For a woman, these are also unfavorable conditions. In especially severe cases, pregnancy is sacrificed to save the woman, because... terminating a pregnancy in this condition immediately leads to recovery (conditionally to recovery), but your child will no longer be born.

Always take care of women! And especially during pregnancy!

Dental reasons

When treating teeth and performing some types of cosmetic procedures, local anesthesia is used, which reduces the sensitivity of tissues. During the period of action of the drug, lips, cheeks, and other areas of the face become numb. After completion of the therapeutic manipulations, sensitivity is restored on its own.

Numbness of the lips and tongue is accompanied by inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. This happens with gingivitis, periodontal disease, and purulent lesions. Soft tissues are involved in the pathological process, which causes swelling and impaired receptor sensitivity.

How to eliminate lip cramps?

The lower lip becomes numb and the reasons are established, from this moment therapy begins, taking into account the results of the medical study. It is not recommended to do anything on your own. Medicines are selected by a specialized specialist, depending on the disease that provoked the cramp of the lower lip.

Drug therapy

Medicines must be taken strictly, following the instructions of the attending physician. Many drugs cause side effects and have serious contraindications. If the lower lip is numb, the patient is prescribed the following medications:

Considering the source of the unpleasant symptom, the patient may be prescribed symptomatic therapy with the use of other medications (antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs).

Physiotherapeutic procedures

Complex treatment of lip paralysis is carried out with the aim of restoring blood circulation in the area of ​​nerve damage and eliminating associated symptoms.

Along with medications, doctors recommend their patients to attend physiotherapeutic procedures:

The described procedures restore not only blood flow, but also lymph movement. During the treatment, the skin also receives a beneficial effect, its appearance improves, and paresthesia is eliminated.

Folk remedies

The lower lip goes numb (the reasons for what to do if discomfort occurs will be determined by the doctor after examination and diagnosis) against the background of various pathologies. Therapy is carried out using different methods.

Non-traditional methods in the fight against various pathological processes can be used, but only comprehensively and strictly after consultation with a specialized doctor. It is important to always remember the high risk of an allergic reaction or individual sensitivity.

Effective folk remedies for numbness of the lower lip:

In folk medicine there are a large number of recipes that will help eliminate the symptoms present in paresthesia of the lower lip. It is important to remember that unconventional methods alone will not be able to cure you, especially if we are talking about a serious illness.

In the absence of timely treatment, the lower lip becomes numb more often, which indicates the progression of pathological processes. It is important to promptly identify the cause of the disease and select treatment. There is no need to do anything on your own, as it can cause serious complications and consequences.

Numbness due to migraine with aura

Migraines with aura are attacks of severe headaches, which are preceded by impaired tissue sensitivity, visual disturbances (spots and “floaters” before the eyes), and speech impairment.

Patients with the neurological disease experience temporary numbness of the lips and sometimes half of the face. In some cases, the sensitivity of the upper limb may decrease. In addition to these symptoms, migraine with aura is accompanied by severe headache, which is pressing or throbbing in nature, dizziness and nausea.

Effect of pregnancy on kidney function

Renal blood flow increases and glomerular filtration increases (maximum in mid-pregnancy) - associated with the excretion of metabolic products of the woman and the fetus.

The permeability of the kidneys to protein and carbohydrates increases: proteinuria (protein in the urine), glucosuria. The excretion of 140 mg/day of glucose in the urine is considered the upper limit of the physiological norm. Peak glucose secretion was detected at 9 months of pregnancy.

The peristaltic function of the ureters is sharply suppressed, as a result of which they expand and urine is retained in them. Atony of the ureters leads to impaired drainage of urine from the pelvis, which creates favorable conditions for the development of pyelonephritis in pregnant women. In the postpartum period, these phenomena soon disappear.

Numb lips due to diabetes

For patients with diabetes, it is important to control blood glucose levels and avoid sudden increases or decreases in sugar. Lips may become numb due to hypoglycemia - a decrease in glucose levels below 2.8 mmol/l. This happens when you take too high a dose of insulin or violate your diet or skip meals.

In addition to numbness of the lips, the patient experiences severe weakness, tremors in the limbs, rapid heartbeat, and excessive sweating. In severe cases, hypoglycemia leads to loss of consciousness and coma. To eliminate this dangerous condition, you need to eat something sweet with quickly doubling carbohydrates. If the patient is unconscious, intravenous glucose and glucagon injection are required.

Why does my upper lip go numb?

Physiological and cosmetic reasons

The appearance of the symptom is provoked by eating too cold or too hot food.
Numbness can also be a consequence of previous irritation of the upper lip from pepper or hot spices. At the same time, similar sensations are observed on the tongue and oral mucosa. The symptoms quickly disappear after stopping contact with the product. At sub-zero temperatures, strong winds, and high humidity, lips easily become chapped and crusty. Crusts impair the perception of tactile stimuli by nerve receptors, so their formation is accompanied by a feeling of numbness, which is complemented by a feeling of tightness due to a decrease in the elasticity of the skin, and the appearance of cracks.

In women, a decrease in lip sensitivity can be explained by individual intolerance to cosmetics (lipstick, lip gloss). Local itching, burning, and signs of skin irritation are possible. In some cases, the symptom is caused by an incorrect tattooing procedure or errors in lip care in the first days after manipulation.

Dental pathologies

One of the most common causes of numbness in the upper lip is diseases of the teeth and gums. The symptom is especially noticeable in severe inflammatory processes, accompanied by severe swelling of the oral mucosa and soft tissues of the face. It is provoked by gumboil, periodontitis, and gingivitis. In addition, numbness of the lip is observed after dental procedures performed under local anesthesia.

Trigeminal nerve injury

Isolated numbness of the upper lip rarely develops and is caused by trauma to the small branches of the n. maxillaris for bruises and open wounds of this anatomical area. A more common sensory disorder, simultaneously covering the upper part of the cheek, the side surface of the face, the outer corner of the eye, and the lower eyelid, is caused by damage to the trunk n. maxillaris, which is the second branch of the trigeminal nerve. It is found in fractures of the upper jaw, zygomatic bone, and compression by tumors.

Numbness of the upper lip

Migraine with aura

In patients with migraine with aura, an attack of cephalgia may be preceded by a transient loss of sensitivity in the hand, spreading to half the face and upper lip. Subsequently, the attack proceeds as usual. There is a throbbing or pressing pain in half of the head, nausea, slight dizziness, high sensitivity to bright light, loud sounds.

Cerebrovascular disorders

Numbness of the upper lip and other parts of the face and body is part of the clinical picture of a transient stroke or stroke. The symptom occurs against the background of headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting, vegetative-vascular manifestations (trembling, sweating, hot flashes), short-term disturbance of consciousness. Hemiparesis, decreased strength of certain muscle groups or one limb, facial asymmetry, and speech impairment are possible.

Hypoglycemia

Numbness of the lip is sometimes detected in patients suffering from severe diabetes mellitus; it develops as a result of severe hypoglycemia when using too high doses of insulin or poor diet. Combined with pallor, sweating, tachycardia, hand tremors. There are feelings of fear, excitement, followed by drowsiness, confusion, and fainting. Without help, coma is possible.

Quincke's edema

Numbness is caused by rapidly increasing swelling of the eyelids, cheeks, upper and lower lips. Quincke's edema forms against the background of an acute allergic reaction upon contact with pollen, animal hair, food, and other allergens. May be a consequence of pseudo-allergy. The condition develops suddenly within a few minutes, less often – hours. Hypoesthesia is often combined with skin itching, lacrimation, the appearance of copious nasal discharge, and difficulty breathing.

Herpes zoster

The cause of the pathology is the virus that persists in the body and causes chickenpox. Shingles symptoms may appear many years or even decades after the viral infection. The upper lip, as well as other parts of the face, become numb due to trigeminal neuritis. Typically, simultaneous involvement of the intercostal nerves, a rash along the affected nerve trunks.

Multiple sclerosis

The disease often manifests itself as weakness in the legs, combined with sensitivity disorders. Numbness and paresthesia are detected in the face, upper lip, torso, and limbs. There is a high probability of developing optic neuritis with reversible vision loss. Subsequently, with multiple sclerosis, paresis, symptoms of cerebellar damage, pyramidal disorders, and dysfunction of the pelvic organs are observed.

Pernicious anemia

The disease is caused by a disorder of hematopoiesis due to a deficiency of vitamin B-12. Manifested by weakness, tachycardia, dizziness, pale skin, puffiness of the face. Possible hypoesthesia of the upper lip, other areas of the face or limbs, and gait changes associated with neurological disorders. A characteristic sign of pernicious anemia is a “lacquered tongue.”

Neuroses

Loss of sensation in various parts of the body most often occurs in patients with hysterical neurosis. The patients’ complaints do not fit into the picture of a specific somatic pathology and are distinguished by pretentiousness and unusualness. Numbness of the upper lip is also sometimes seen in people with anxiety disorders. It may be part of the clinical picture of a panic attack or occur when the level of anxiety increases.

Diagnosis and treatment

Numbness of the lips itself occurs only for physiological reasons and does not require treatment. In other cases, patients note other signs of pathology: pain, weakness, dizziness, etc. Based on these, the cause of the sensitivity disorder can be determined and a treatment regimen can be selected. To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to consult a therapist, dentist or neurologist.

If inflammatory processes or tumors in the oral cavity are suspected, an x-ray is prescribed.
For neurological pathologies, CT and MRI are used to make a diagnosis. Laboratory tests help confirm or exclude the presence of diabetes and anemia. To get rid of numb lips, you need to eliminate the underlying cause. To do this, patients are prescribed drug therapy that effectively combats the symptoms of the disease. For tumors, fractures or injuries of the jaw, pulpitis, abscesses, and strokes, surgical treatment is required.

The structure of the external (and internal) genital organs changes

• The external genitalia become swollen and hyperemic. Cyanosis of the mucous membranes of the vaginal part of the cervix, vagina and its vestibule occurs, which indicates vasodilatation and blood stasis, facilitating serous permeation of the tissues necessary for the deposition of nutrients at the site of attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine wall.
• The vagina expands and lengthens somewhat during pregnancy. The walls of the vagina are swollen and thickened. The discharge becomes more abundant, mucous in nature, milky white or yellowish in color with an acidic reaction. In a healthy pregnant woman, the vagina has I-II degrees of cleanliness.

The uterus changes the most during pregnancy compared to other organs.

Its size increases during pregnancy in all respects:

• weight - from 50-100 g to 1-2 kg!!!
• length - from 7-9 cm to 50 cm,
• volume - 500 times, reaching 2-3,000 cm3 (liters) or more.

Accordingly, changes occur in all tissues, blood supply and innervation of the uterus:

• The shape and position of the uterus changes during pregnancy. As the uterus grows, it emerges from the pelvis into the abdominal cavity, rising in the 9th month of pregnancy to the xiphoid process. The shape of the uterus is asymmetrical due to the bulging of the part where the placenta is attached.
• Thin arteries and veins of the uterus turn into powerful trunks, which become corkscrew-shaped, tortuous, which allows maintaining normal blood supply during pronounced changes in the uterus during pregnancy and during contraction of its muscles during childbirth.
• The volume of blood circulation in the uterus during pregnancy increases tens of times, providing uteroplacental blood flow, which is carried out according to the principle of blood supply to vital organs and remains relatively optimal even under various stresses (blood loss, anemia). This ensures the survival of the fetus in extreme situations.
• The receptor system of the uterus changes: during pregnancy, the sensitivity of the uterus to stimulating factors decreases, before childbirth, the excitability of the uterus increases, some of the nervous structures are lost in order to reduce pain information from the uterus during childbirth.

With the appearance of the placenta, a pregnancy dominant arises in the cerebral cortex, which ensures clear coordination of the functions of all organs and systems in the interests of the developing fetus.

Women note a decrease in performance, increased drowsiness, or vice versa, they are irritated, they have nausea, drooling, periodic vomiting, which is classified as mild and the occurrence of which corresponds to the phase of functional changes in the nervous system.

Pregnant women have increased suggestibility and self-hypnosis, which is taken into account when conducting psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth.

Phenomena of paresthesia, neuralgic pain, spasms of muscle groups, numbness of the fingers and other disorders may occur. Increased excitability of peripheral nerves is also manifested by increased knee reflexes.

With all this, sexual excitability decreases , and you, dear husbands, must be prepared for this. No need, under no circumstances!!! (remember about increased suggestibility and self-hypnosis) do not show your grievances that your wife is cold and inattentive to you, which means she has stopped loving you. She still loves you, she is already carrying your child and she has a dominant in her cerebral cortex - to endure pregnancy at all costs. And there is no escape from this.

• In a pregnant woman, the functions of some analyzers change - hearing, vision, smell!!! A pregnant woman's sense of smell can become so strong that the woman will react to the lightest (hardly perceptible) odors.

Please keep in mind, dear men, when a woman feels bad, feels sick, and the world is generally in shades of grey, for some reason unhappy thoughts come into her head, which can lead to a deterioration in her condition and, as a consequence, to termination of pregnancy.

During pregnancy, changes affect other organs as well.

The adrenal glands increase in size during pregnancy due to cortical hyperplasia, and the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal glands increases accordingly.

Strengthening the function of the adrenal cortex during pregnancy is aimed at increasing protective and adaptive mechanisms, including during childbirth.

The thyroid gland increases in volume and function increases. Goiter in pregnant women is observed, especially in areas endemic for goiter (little iodine in soil and water) and hyperthyroidism without thyrotoxicosis. Strengthening the function of the thyroid gland is associated with the influence of placental hormones on it. Clinical thyrotoxicosis does not develop due to increased binding of free hormones by plasma proteins. The protein-bound form of the hormone is subsequently utilized by the fetus and the mother’s body, since the need for it increases with the development of pregnancy, before the onset of fetal thyroid function.

The parathyroid glands (calcium metabolism) undergo hypertrophy, their functional activity increases due to the increased need for calcium, which is a plastic material for the formation of the musculoskeletal system of the fetus. If there is insufficient intake or impaired absorption, the fetus receives calcium from the tissues of the mother’s body (bones, teeth), which can manifest itself as osteoporosis, fragility and dental caries. During pregnancy, the concentration of calcium in the blood increases. The content of phosphorus compounds, iron and a number of microelements (cobalt, iodine, manganese, copper) also decreases in the blood plasma. The deficiency of these substances is due to the needs of the fetus and increased metabolic reactions, the enzyme systems of which include some of the micro- and macroelements.

Pancreas – strengthening the function of the insulin-producing apparatus. As a result, carbohydrates are absorbed very well and are deposited in the mother’s liver and in the tissues of the fetus. Women with diabetes always give birth to large children due to the utilization of excess carbohydrates by the fetus. Some pregnant women experience glucosuria (sugar in the urine), which is not pathological and manifests itself with normal or even low carbohydrate levels in the blood.

The pituitary gland in pregnant women increases in volume and is difficult to fit in the sella turcica; hyperproduction of growth hormone (GH) is observed, which, penetrating the placenta, stimulates the growth of the embryo. This hormone also affects the lactogenic function of the mammary gland, causing in some cases an enlargement of the nose, lips, and fingers.

Symptoms

Numbness of the lips, regardless of the ongoing pathological processes in the body, is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. Feeling of “goosebumps” in the upper layers of the epidermis of the face;
2. Itching or burning on the lower or upper lip;
3. Changes in pigmentation in the area where tingling or numbness of the skin is felt;
4. Loss of sensation extends to the cheeks, chin, nose and mouth;
5. The skin feels cool;
6. Painful sensations appear;
7. Tingling in the upper layers of the skin.

For each disease, the symptoms are supplemented by certain signs that are unique to this disease. Therefore, it is important to determine the root cause and begin to treat it. Otherwise, irreversible consequences may develop, including loss of sensitivity of the entire face.

Vitamin and mineral deficiency

If the upper or lower jaw, as well as the lips, tongue and chin, go numb, then the reasons for this phenomenon may lie in an acute lack of B vitamins. With their deficiency, the conduction of nerve impulses is disrupted. To replenish the body’s “pantry” with B vitamins, you need to include foods such as nuts, beans, chicken, cheeses and cereals in your diet.

“My lower jaw constantly went numb during pregnancy. I complained to the doctor, but she said that this happens often. Pregnant women have metabolic disorders and slow blood flow, and they are always lacking vitamins and minerals. To correct the situation, I took all sorts of vitamins as prescribed by the doctor, had a massage, and tried to eat right. BUT nothing helped. I already began to suspect some serious abnormalities in my health, I donated blood, but the tests were normal. Everything went away a few weeks after giving birth!”

Alina I., review from babyblog.ru

Lack of vitamins also contributes to jaw numbness

Characteristic

Numbness of the lips, or scientifically “paresthesia,” is a loss of sensitivity in the upper layers of the epidermis on any part of the face. This condition can occur due to a number of reasons. The main factor provoking the formation of the symptom is a strong weakening of the patient’s immune system.

The manifestation of such symptoms signals the development of some problem in the body. If the upper lip is numb, this indicates a lack of vitamins or microelements in the internal organs. The disease can act as a side effect from previously suffered serious illnesses.

The development of paresthesia is triggered by problems in the conduction of nerve endings. The latter belong to different parts of the central nervous system of sensitive or peripheral types.

The disease affects elderly people or patients with a predisposition to the pathological process. People who are often in stressful situations or have problems with teeth or gums complain of loss of sensitivity in the upper layers of the epidermis. Numbness is observed in patients with neurotic disorders or in those patients who have endocrine diseases.

If there is numbness of one lip or both at once, the warmth of the fingers and pain are not felt when touching. In this case, there is sensitivity of the skin on the lips when touched or pressed with fingers. The process develops due to damage or irritation of nerve endings, and can also be triggered by disturbances in the circulatory system.

If numbness appears in one area for a long period of time and does not go away, then loss of sensitivity is a sign of complete death of nerve endings. Therefore, if discomfort occurs on the skin of the face, it is recommended not to hesitate, but to immediately consult a doctor.

Medical errors made during dental treatment

Dental treatment, and especially procedures that require surgery, are best done by professional doctors. Then the risk of developing any complications will be minimal. If a patient turns to an insufficiently experienced specialist, then there is always the possibility that not everything will go smoothly. For example, numbness of the lower jaw and chin can occur if the dentist damaged the nerve during the administration of anesthesia through a syringe or injured it during the operation. The cause of the pathology can also be incorrect calculation of the dosage of the anesthetic.

The numbing effect also occurs after improper treatment

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The problem may arise after poor-quality treatment and filling of tooth canals. For example, if the doctor moved the filling material beyond the root. Or, during the treatment of deep caries and pulpitis, he left microbes inside the canals, which subsequently provoked root inflammation and periodontitis.