Why does a childs face during a RAS attack go white and not blue?
During a RAS attack the heart stops beating, and breathing stops. Blood vessels constrict and the blood is not able to get to the skin. This results in white pallor to the face. The blood is lacking in oxygen and will be blue colored only noticeable on the lips in the early stages of the attack. During a blue breath holding attack lack of oxygen from the lungs causes blood to turn blue. However, as the heart is still pumping, this ‘blue’ blood passes through the blood vessels of the face, causing the whole face and the skin of the body to have a blue tinge.
