Show Medically Reviewed by Tyler Wheeler, MD on August 23, 2021 Raynaud’s disease is when blood vessels in your fingers and toes temporarily overreact to low temperatures or stress. For most people, it isn’t a serious health problem. But for some, the reduced blood flow can cause damage. This condition is named for the French doctor who first identified it in 1862. You may hear it called by many names. There are two types: You might notice: When it’s cold, your body tries to conserve heat. One way it does that is to slow down blood flow to the areas farthest from your heart -- your hands and feet. To do that, the network of small arteries that carry blood to those points gets narrower, moving them away from your skin. This is called the vasomotor response. If you have Raynaud’s, your response is off. Those arteries shrink more than normal, and faster than normal. That can make your fingers and toes feel numb and change color to white or blue. This usually lasts about 15 minutes. When the arteries relax and your body warms back up, your fingers feel tingly and turn red before returning to normal. You might have changes to genes that control your response, but doctors haven’t found a link between this and Raynaud’s. Secondary Raynaud’s works the same, but you get it as the result of another disease. Conditions that make you likely to get secondary Raynaud’s include: As many as one in 10 people may have some form of Raynaud’s. Most have primary Raynaud’s. About one person in 100, or fewer, will have secondary Raynaud’s. If your doctor thinks you have Raynaud’s, they’ll ask questions about your symptoms and look at your fingers and toes. They might also use a special magnifying glass called a dermoscope to check the blood vessels around your fingernails to see if they’re larger than normal or oddly shaped. If the doctor thinks your condition results from another health problem, they might take some of your blood to test in a lab. This lets them check for signs of an autoimmune disorder like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment goals will include preventing attacks or limiting them when they do happen. That usually means keeping your hands and feet warm and dry, controlling stress, and getting regular exercise. Medication Your doctor might ask you to avoid some drugs, including over-the-counter cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine. They can make your symptoms worse by causing your blood vessels to narrow. If you have secondary Raynaud’s, your doctor might prescribe medicines to control your blood pressure and relax your blood vessels. If you get sores on your skin as a result, you might need to apply a cream that contains one of these drugs. They include: Surgery If your condition doesn’t improve after these steps and you’re at risk of severe problems, like losing parts of your fingers or toes, your doctor might consider surgery. These procedures involve cutting the nerves to the blood vessels in your skin to limit how much they open and close. The doctor might also inject drugs into your hands or feet to block those nerves. Home Treatment for Raynaud’s
No, but serious cases can cut off the blood flow to your skin and lead to tissue damage. A completely blocked artery can lead to skin sores (ulcers) or dead tissue (gangrene). It’s rare, but if this happens, the doctor might have to remove a finger or toe.
Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition that can cause discomfort as the blood supply to your extremities becomes reduced. In general, fingers and toes are affected, but other parts of your body such as your nose, lips and ears can be affected too. It can happen in cold temperatures or when you’re in an emotionally stressful situation. Raynaud’s phenomenon can occur on its own (primary Raynaud’s phenomenon), or it can be linked to another disease or condition (secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon). It can last from just a few minutes to many hours. Raynaud’s phenomenon doesn’t usually cause permanent damage. However, it can be a symptom of a more serious underlying illness, so it’s important to see your doctor if you experience it. Symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenonYour body protects your internal organs (your core) from heat loss in cold weather by redirecting the blood away from the extremities such as the fingers and toes. With Raynaud’s phenomenon, this reaction is exaggerated. Blood vessels in your extremities narrow, starving the tissues of blood and causing the characteristic blue or white colour change. When this happens, you may experience stinging pain, tingling and numbness in your fingers or toes. When blood flow returns, the skin turns from blue to red and finally back to its usual colour. Circulation to the rest of the body is generally unaffected. Primary Raynaud's phenomenonPrimary Raynaud’s phenomenon (or Raynaud’s disease, or just Raynaud’s) is the most common form of Raynaud’s phenomenon. It affects more women than men, generally under the age of 30. If you have a family member with primary Raynaud’s, you’re more at risk of developing it. Primary Raynaud’s phenomenon is referred to as ‘idiopathic’ because there is no clear underlying cause. It’s often so mild that the person never seeks medical attention. Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon is generally more complex and serious than primary Raynaud’s. The most common causes of secondary Raynaud’s are underlying autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). Other common causes of secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon are:
Diagnosing Raynaud’s phenomenonIt’s not hard to diagnose Raynaud’s phenomenon, but it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between the primary or secondary form of the disorder. Your doctor may use a range of methods to decide which form you have, including:
Treating Raynaud’s phenomenonFor most people, primary Raynaud’s phenomenon is a nuisance rather than a disabling condition. Keeping your body and extremities warm and dressing appropriately for the cold with gloves, thick socks and warm layers can help to prevent attacks. However, if a Raynaud’s attack does occur, warming the body and the extremities is helpful. If you’re outside, go indoors and soak fingers or toes in warm (not hot) water. If you can’t go indoors, try to warm your fingers or toes by wiggling them. You could also place your hands under your armpits, make circles with your arms or try to massage your hands or feet. If a stressful situation triggers the attack, try to remove yourself from the situation and relax. Talk with your doctor if your Raynaud’s isn’t controlled by these simple measures. You may need to be prescribed medications that widen your blood vessels and improve circulation. The general response to secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon is to treat the underlying illness (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis). In severe cases, to prevent tissue damage you may be prescribed medication that dilates your blood vessels. Surgery may be needed if you develop skin ulcers or serious tissue damage. Preventing Raynaud’s phenomenonThere is no cure for Raynaud’s phenomenon. Managing the condition requires avoiding known triggers, particularly exposure to cold temperatures and stressful situations. Things you can do to prevent an attack include:
Complications of Raynaud’s phenomenonIn most cases, Raynaud’s phenomenon is harmless and has no lasting effects. However, in severe cases loss of blood flow can permanently damage the tissue. Complications of severe Raynaud’s phenomenon include:
Talk with your doctor if you notice any of these problems or if you notice other changes to your symptoms. Where to get help
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