Do your fingers and toes suddenly get deathly cold , pale , and numb when they touch something cold ?
Chances are it is Raynaud’s phenomenon. This condition causes ” attacks ” that limit blood supply to fingers and toes , which may get pale , cold and numb . As blood returns , they may start to tingle and hurt .
Except in rare cases , it’s typically not serious . There’s no cure , but there are changes you can make to your routine , dress , and diet that can help you manage symptoms .
Cause
The root cause is not known . Even though another illness can bring on secondary Raynaud’s , doctors do know that they typically happen when blood vessels overreact and spasm in response to low temperatures , high emotions , and stress .
Primary Raynaud’s
This is the most common form of the condition . Primary Raynaud’s happens by itself without any obvious cause .
It shows up between the ages of 15 and 30 .
Fortunately , it tends to be less serious than the secondary type .
Primary Raynaud’s doesn’t have a link to another medical condition , and if you have it , you’re not likely to develop one later .
Sometimes symptoms may be so mild that you don’t feel the need to seek treatment . Sometimes they also get better on their own .
Secondary Raynaud’s
This form usually rears its head later on , at age 40 . Secondary Raynaud’s happens as a symptom of an underlying illness or injury. It can precipitate more serious symptoms than the primary kind .
Only your rheumatologist can make the distinction whether you have primary or secondary Raynaud’s .
The root cause could be :
+ Scleroderma , an inflammatory autoimmune disease that hardens connective tissue .
+ Medicines that change your blood pressure or narrow your blood vessels .
+ Diseases that damage arteries , nearby nerves , and connective tissue , especially in your hands and feet .
+ Repeated movements or injury that damage nerves around blood vessels near your feet or hands .
Symptoms
An ” attack ” usually hits the fingers and toes , but can also strike your nose , ears , nipples , or lips . It might start in one finger and mosey on to others .
It may last less than sixty seconds , or go on for hours .
The affected areas usually :
+ Feel numb , cold , or painful
+ Throb , burn , tingle , and swell when blood returns
+ Turn pale , white , or even bluish in color
Primary Raynaud’s affects women more and is more pronounced in people domiciled in colder climes .
On the other hand …
Secondary Raynaud’s affect people older than 30 . Jobs that use repeated motions like jackhammers are associated with this secondary kind .
Diagnosis
When you pay your rheumatologist a visit , they’ll examine you and take your medical history . They may put your hands in ice water briefly to see how long it takes for them to warm up to a normal temperature . They may also peek at your fingers under the microscope for the tiny blood vessels . Blood tests should show whether your Raynaud’s is primary or secondary .
Treatment
Protection from the cold
Here’s some steps you can take to be able to manage your Raynaud’s symptoms on your own :
+ Start your car to warm it up before you drive in cold weather
+ Wearing a hat , mittens , and warm socks in cold weather
+ Wear gloves to take food out of the fridge or freezer
+ Keep hand and foot warming packs nearby to preempt cold climes
During a Raynaud’s attack :
— quickly warm your fingers and toes by rubbing your hands and feet , wiggling your fingers and toes , tucking your hands in your underarms ; if you’re stressed , step back , just breathe , then relax ( repeat and rinse ) .
Treatment : Medicine and Surgery
If your symptoms interfere with daily life even after you make changes to your routine , clothing , and other habits .
Your rheumatologist may be able to point you to the right medications to help you such as :
+ ACE inhibitors
+ Alpha blockers
+ Calcium channel blockers
+ Prescription skin creams
Only in rare cases do you need a shot or surgery to help prevent tissue damage or improve blood flow .
Summary
Everything explained thus far , are among some of the salient facts about Raynaud’s phenomenon .
