This is a health condition in which a person feels fingers and toes cold and numb in response to stress or low temperatures. It is known as Raynaud’s disease and provokes the skin’s arteries to narrow. Thus, blood flow is limited in certain areas of the body (vasospasm). This condition is also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon and Raynaud’s syndrome.
However, females are more prone to develop this condition than males. Moreover, it mostly happens in people who live in cold regions.
Doctors usually prescribe the treatment according to the severity of the disease, existing health problems, and other factors. In any case, Raynaud’s disease could affect your quality of life without causing major health problems.
Symptoms
The main Raynaud’s disease symptoms include:
- Cold fingers or toes
- Skin color change (such as white or blue)
- Stinging pain or numbness after warming or stress management
Commonly, this health condition impacts only fingers and toes but can also affect other body parts (such as nose, lips, ears, and even nipples). The return of the blood flow to the affected areas after warming up may take approximately 10-15 minutes.
In case you experience a sore or infection in one of the negatively affected areas (including fingers and toes), you should visit a doctor immediately.
Causes
Healthcare providers do not understand why this disease happens. When the condition occurs, blood vessels seem to have an increased reaction to stress or low temperatures.
The primary causes of this disease are stress and cold. As a result, the blood vessels are narrowed which limits the blood flow to certain body parts. Raynaud’s disease usually occurs when you are in cold air, take something from a freezer, or put your hands in cold water.
Raynaud’s Disease Types
- Primary Raynaud’s – This type is the most common and it usually does not require treatment and goes away on its own. In addition, primary Raynaud’s is not caused by another health problem.
- Secondary Raynaud’s – In such cases, Raynaud’s phenomenon is caused by another disease. However, it occurs less commonly but can be more dangerous than the primary form.
Check below the main causes of secondary Raynaud’s:
- Connective tissue disease – This is a rare condition that causes scarring and hardening of the skin (scleroderma). Approximately all people with scleroderma also develop Raynaud’s.
- Arteries diseases – Raynaud’s occur in such cases usually due to fatty buildup in the blood vessels. As a result, blood vessels that supply blood to fingers and toes can become inflamed. Secondary Raynaud’s also can happen due to hypertension that impacts the lung arteries.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – This condition provokes an increased pressure on the major nerve of the hand which leads to an elevated response to low temperatures or stress.
- Repeated actions of vibrations – Activities such as playing piano, typing, or other repeated movements for long periods can lead to Raynaud’s. The secondary type of this condition also can occur while using vibrating tools (such as jackhammers).
- Smoking – Tobacco products tend to narrow blood vessels.
- Injuries – For instance, wrist fractures, surgery, or frostbite.
- Medications – These include beta-blockers, hypertension drugs, migraine medicines, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drugs, cancer medications, and others.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get this disease but the following factors can elevate your risk. Examples include:
Primary Raynaud’s Risk Factors
- Females are more likely to get this condition than males.
- The primary type of this disease usually happens in people between 15 and 30 years old.
- People who live in the colder regions are more prone to developing primary Raynaud’s.
- You are at higher risk of getting this health problem if you have a family history of primary Raynaud’s
Check below also secondary Raynaud’s risk factors:
- Diseases – For example scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and others.
- Jobs – Some people at work can experience repeated trauma. For instance, those who work with vibrating tools.
- Substances – The following substances can narrow the blood vessels which makes you more likely to develop secondary Raynaud’s. For example tobacco products, vinyl chloride, and others.
Complications
People who experience a severe form of secondary Raynaud’s can experience tissue damage. However, this complication happens quite rarely.
Dead tissue and skin sores can appear in people who have thorough artery blockage. While it is challenging to treat this blockage, ignoring it may lead to surgery to remove the affected body region.
Is it Possible to Prevent Raynaud’s Disease?
The following tips can help you to prevent or avoid Raynaud’s attacks. For example:
- It is advised to wear a hat, scarf, socks, and boots when it is cold and you are outdoors. Moreover, thermal underwear also can help to prevent frostbite.
- You can also warm your car for several minutes before driving in low temperatures.
- Wear socks or gloves when getting something from the refrigerator or freezer.
Diagnosis
Doctors usually ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history before diagnosing this disease. They can also perform some tests to exclude other health problems that provoke the same symptoms as Raynaud’s disease.
Doctors usually perform a nailfold capillaroscopy to determine which type of Raynaud’s disease you have. This test involves a microscope or magnification that helps your doctor take a closer look at the skin and the base of the fingernail to check for blood vessel swelling.
Moreover, physicians can perform blood tests to determine which health problem provokes Raynaud’s disease. They can also perform:
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate – This test is used to identify the rate of red blood cell fall. If you have an increased rate, it may be a symptom of an inflammatory or autoimmune condition.
- Antinuclear antibodies test (ANA test) – This test helps doctors determine if you have an autoimmune reaction. It means that the body’s defense (immune system) attacks its own body tissues. Commonly, such body defense activity is noticed in people with connective tissue disease or other autoimmune diseases.
Treatment
Mild symptoms of this disease are relieved usually by wearing gloves or heavy socks in cold weather, especially when outdoors. However, doctors can prescribe some medications if you experience a severe form of Raynaud’s disease. The treatment goals include decreasing Raynaud’s attacks, preventing damage to the tissue, and management of the underlying conditions.
Medicines
Healthcare providers usually prescribe the following medications to treat people with Raynaud’s disease. For example:
- Vasodilators – These are medications that help to relax and widen blood vessels. For example hypertension medicines (such as Losartan), erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs (such as Sildenafil Citrate), antidepressants (such as Fluoxetine), and prostaglandins.
- Calcium channel blockers – This group of medicines works similarly to vasodilators but also helps to open small arteries in the hands and feet. Examples include Nifedipine, Amlodipine, Felodipine, and Isradipine. Calcium channel blockers can also help with fingers or toes sores.
Other Treatment Options
- Injections – In some cases, physicians can recommend injections that block nerves in the affected feet or hands. One of them contains onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox). In case you receive these treatment options and still experience symptoms, you may need to receive the injection more times.
- Surgery – There are some people who receive surgery that cuts nerves that respond to cold temperatures or stress. This helps to reduce the symptoms and Raynaud’s attacks.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes
There are some tips that could help you to prevent this condition. Check some of them below:
- It is advised to manage stress because it is one of the primary causes of Raynaud’s disease. You can reduce stress by regularly exercising, joining support groups, and others.
- You can also avoid quick temperature changes. For instance, not to go from heat to air conditioning.
- Despite regular exercise may help to manage stress it improves blood flow.
- Quit smoking or never start because it narrows the blood vessels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there natural procedures and supplements that could help with Raynaud’s disease?
You can add the following supplements and procedures along with medicines to Raynaud’s disease treatment. For example:
- Ginkgo – This is a good supplement that helps to reduce Raynaud’s attacks.
- Fish oil – Administering this supplement, can help to improve your blood flow.
- Acupuncture – This procedure also reduces the frequency of Raynaud’s attacks.
Discuss with your healthcare professional for more details.
What are the complications of Raynaud’s disease?
- Ulcers
- Scarring of the skin tissue
- Gangrene (tissue death)
If you suspect you have any previous complications, you should see a doctor immediately.
What is the best treatment option for Raynaud’s disease?
Most prescribed medications for this disease are calcium channel blockers. They help to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow through them. Sometimes, this group of medications can be prescribed to treat sores on the toes or fingers. In case you have additional questions, you can ask your healthcare professional.
