Raynaud's Syndrome

The condition known as Raynaud's, also known as Raynauds phenomenon, has two different forms: Raynaud's syndrome and Raynaud's disease. Both maladies are triggered by cold or stress events. Raynaud's disease is the most common form and it has no known cause. Raynaud's syndrome can be a side-effect of several other disease conditions, such as lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, repetitive trauma, carpal tunnel syndrome, smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis and other causes. In both cases cold and stress are triggers which somehow cause the arteries that supply the skin to constrict, causing extremities of the body to become cold and/or lose sensation. This condition occurs more frequently in women and there is a higher incidence in colder climates. Included in the information below you will find symptoms that are associated with Raynauds, some of the statistics and two treatments that are commonly used. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433 http://arthritis.webmd.com/tc/raynauds-phenomenon-topic-overview

Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, however, at the onset of Raynaud's syndrome, the affected areas (toes, fingers) will become more white, then they will become cold. Sometimes the toes and fingers will turn blue. Upon recovery from the symptoms, the skin will become red and there may be tingling, throbbing or swelling. Attacks may involve only one or two toes or fingers, and may also occur in other areas of the body, such as the lips, nipples, ears or nose. Attacks may be of short duration or they may last for hours. With Raynaud's disease, symptoms will be related to the underlying condition of the patient. A severe case of Raynaud's can result in finger or toe deformation, skin ulceration, infection and gangrene. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433/DSECTION=symptoms http://arthritis.webmd.com/tc/raynauds-phenomenon-symptoms

• Prevalence estimate: About 5-10% of the population, or 13.6 -27.2 million people. http://www.cureresearch.com/r/raynauds_phenomenon/stats.htm

• From 40-60% of the patients respond to treatments.

• Women between the ages of 15-50 are most often affected.

Keeping the body warm is an important means of managing this disorder. So if you are exposed to cold conditions, you should protect your hands with gloves and wear clothes that will keep the body warm. Moving to a warmer climate will not stop the episodes, but it will help reduce the frequency of episodes. Here are some other tips that you may consider in self-management of this disease:

1. Mittens are better than gloves for keeping the hands warm. You can utilize chemical heat packs within the mittens for additional warmth.
2. You can keep warmer by wearing loosely fitting clothes in layers, including multiple pairs of socks. Wearing a hat is essential because a lot of heat is lost from the head.
3. The hands may dry and crack, so it is important to wear gloves if your hands get wet, such as with washing of dishes. You should also regularly apply lotions to keep the skin in good condition.
4. For baths and washing of vegetables use warm water.
5. Keep the rooms you use most often at a comfortable temperature.
6. If others are with you and can help you minimize your exposure to cold, let them help.
7. Layers of blankets and even wearing mittens to bed may be recommended.

Exercise may help in some cases to increase circulation. Biofeedback therapy has been used with success for some as well.

Medical treatment options may include the use of medications that are also used in the treatment of high blood pressure, such as calcium channel blockers. In some cases, doctors may recommend cutting of nerves that cause the constriction of the blood vessels to the extremities. http://www.orthop.washington.edu/uw/raynaudsphenomenon/tabID__3370/ItemID__50/PageID__7/Articles/Default.aspx

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have this disease, please consult your doctor.