The "blue blood" was a concept used in the West to designate people who belonged to the nobility , the aristocracy or the royal houses.The concept came because Due to the white color of the skin, since these people did not work outdoors, the bluish veins were seen through it, not because the blood was really blue .In the case at hand, we were wondering if it is possible to have green or blue blood instead of red, really.
Green or blue blood instead of red, is it possible?
Although it seems impossible, we must answer affirmatively: Yes , it is possible to have green or blue blood, although it is a very unusual fact and that it implies existence of a serious medical problem .

The disorder is known as Sulfohemoglobinemia and in the person suffering from it there is an excess sulfohemoglobin in the blood .Hemoglobin turns green or blue because sulfur atoms are incorporated into its molecules. At sight, the patient has a greenish or bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes, skin and blood, called cyanosis .The cause of this problem may be the intake of medicines containing sulfonamides , the use of some drugs or continued exposure to sulfuric components .medical problem is that the blood, under these conditions, is not able to transport oxygen .The solution is to administer an antidote or to carry out transfusions if the situation is not reversed with the creation of erythrocytes itself.

The best known case of this problem was published in the medical journal" The Lancet "in 2007.Doctors Schwarz, Del Vicario and Flexman, Canadian anesthetists at St.Paul Hospital in Vancouver presented the case of a 42-year-old man who suffered Compartment Syndrome after falling asleep sitting down and pressure on his legs.As the only solution was surgery, some tests were performed and it was found that his blood was green/blue .Sent the sample to the laboratory Sulfohemoglobinemia was detected, possibly caused by the consumption in higher doses of prescribed for a medicine called sumatriptan that contains sulfonamides.

As you have seen, if it is possible to have blue blood or see Rdosa, but it is not medically advisable or "glamorous" to have it of that color.If you are interested in health-related issues and medical curiosities, you may want to read the article: People with SUPER OLFATO.Is this your case? Learn more!
Image: Kate Lewis
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