Why Is My Lip Swollen When I Wake Up?
The first thing that comes into your mind when you wake up with swollen lip is “I have a cold.” You may think it’s just because you’re tired or maybe even hungry. But if you really want to know what caused the swollen lip, then read on.
You probably don’t remember anything from before you fell asleep except waking up in bed.
So how did this happen?
Well, there are several possible reasons.
1) A Cold Can Cause Your Lips To Squeak And Make Them Look Strange
When you get sick, your body produces less mucus (the clear liquid that coats your mouth). This means that when you cough or sneeze, some of the mucus gets trapped in your lungs and stays there instead of getting out through your nose.
As a result, your lips will swell up. This happens when mucus builds up inside your mouth and throat. It usually starts happening around the time of infection like colds or flu.
Sometimes it doesn’t happen until days after you’ve been ill, but sometimes it takes longer.
If you’re not sure whether you had a cold or not, check yourself for symptoms such as: sore throat, fever, chills and headache. If you have a cold or the flu, you’re not alone. It’s going around right now and it can be really unpleasant.
If your lip starts to look strange, don’t panic. It should go back to normal in a day or two. Just make sure you drink plenty of water and rest until you feel better.
2) Your Hair Gel Or Toothpaste May Be To Blame
If you wear hair gel or other strong holding products in your hair, you might be allergic to one of the ingredients. It’s possible that you’ve been reacting to it for a while without realizing it, but a reaction like this could be caused by something else as well.
If you have any leftover toothpaste in your mouth, it’s also possible that this is what did it. The ingredients in these things are rather harsh and can cause reactions in some people.
3) You May Have A Rare Condition
You might have a condition called angioedema. It’s a disease that causes your body to produce too much of a particular type of protein called kinin. This protein is also found in some plants, like poison ivy, which is why people who have it are sometimes also allergic to plants.
You might react badly to these proteins for the same reason you’re having a reaction to something in your hair product or toothpaste. It’s possible that you’re having an reaction without being allergic though. This can cause a lot of swelling that goes down after a few days.
During this time, you should see a doctor just to be sure.
4) You Might Have An Allergic Reaction To Something Else
It’s also possible that you have an allergy to something else. If you don’t usually have any allergic reactions, this is probably the case. Common allergens are things like foods, dust mites, pet dander, or pollen.
If you recently started a new job that exposes you to something you’re allergic to, your swelling could be caused by this.
If you think you might be having an allergic reaction, take note of any new things you’ve been exposed to in the last week or so. This could include a new food you’ve tried, a new laundry detergent you’ve started using, or anything else.
If you can’t figure it out on your own, go see a doctor who can help you identify the cause and get on meds to treat it.
5) You’ve Been Swallowing A Lot Of Water Recently
If you’ve been doing a lot of swimming or exercise in the last day or so, it’s possible that you’re just swallowing a lot of water. This can cause your body to react by producing more saliva and mucus to protect your respiratory system as your body tries to get the water out of you. Since this is a normal reaction, it shouldn’t cause you any other problems.
It should go away on its own after you’ve had a chance to rest.
6) You Swallowed Something You Shouldn’t Have
If you’ve been putting things in your mouth that you shouldn’t have (please don’t do this), it’s possible that you’ve swallowed something that is actually causing your swelling. This can include anything from a coin to a peanut. While you could end up needing surgery, there’s a much better chance that whatever it is will just pass through your body over the course of the next day or two.
Until then, there’s not much you can do except wait it out.
7) You Might Actually Have Swallowed Something Else
If this is the case, you definitely don’t want to wait around to see what happens. You need to seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Your swelling could be caused by anything from an allergic reaction to a drug overdose or a blood clot.
Even if it isn’t this serious, it’s still best to get it checked out right away.
Hopefully, your swelling isn’t serious and you can get it taken care of as soon as possible. In the meantime, don’t do anything that will make it worse. Don’t try to “pop” any of the swollen areas.
Don’t scratch, pick or squeeze them either. If you have any concerns or they get worse, seek medical treatment immediately.
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