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What is Raynaud's Phenomenon?

Cathy Rogers
Cathy Rogers

Raynaud's phenomenon is a disorder that causes the blood vessels in the fingers and toes to constrict, which results in discoloration, numbness and/or throbbing or tingling. The attacks are triggered by exposure to cold temperatures or, sometimes, emotional stress.

When someone with Raynaud's phenomenon is exposed to cold or experiences a stressful situation, blood flow to the extremities is reduced. The small blood vessels that supply blood to the fingers, toes, and sometimes nose, lips or earlobes, contract. As these arteries constrict, or even collapse, the affected area changes in color and feeling. During an attack, the digits might turn white, blue or red, and can also feel cold or numb. When the attack ends, the return of the blood flow can cause throbbing, tingling or swelling.

Carpal tunnel syndrome may cause secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may cause secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.

In 1862, a French physician, Maurice Raynaud, published the first report of the condition later named Raynaud's phenomenon. In his report, he described a young woman whose fingertips changed colors when she was exposed to cold or experienced emotional stress. Between 5-10% of the U.S. population are estimated to have Raynaud's phenomenon. Other names for Raynaud's phenomenon include Raynaud's syndrome and Raynaud's disease.

Not smoking will help patients who suffer from Raynaud's phenomenon to prevent attacks.
Not smoking will help patients who suffer from Raynaud's phenomenon to prevent attacks.

To prevent attacks, those who suffer from Raynaud's phenomenon can take precautionary measures including dressing warmly, reducing stress, exercising regularly and not smoking. Other helpful behaviors include using insulated glasses for drinking, wearing gloves when handling frozen or refrigerated foods, and using foot and hand warmer devices, such as those sold in sporting goods stores. Because even air conditioning can trigger an attack, dressing in layers is advantageous.

Numbness and tingling in the fingers may inhibit an individual's ability to perform basic tasks, such as teeth brushing.
Numbness and tingling in the fingers may inhibit an individual's ability to perform basic tasks, such as teeth brushing.

Once an attack occurs, moving indoors and using warm water to warm the extremities can shorten the duration of an episode. Learning to relax is also beneficial to some patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. Biofeedback techniques, in which the sufferer learns to increase the blood supply to his or her extremities, are helpful in some cases.

There are two forms of Raynaud's phenomenon. The primary form, which is the milder form, occurs in persons with no underlying medical disease or problems. The most likely patient is a woman between the ages of 15 and 40. The secondary, and more serious, form of Raynaud's phenomenon occurs in people who have connective tissue diseases, such as lupus, scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, dermatomyositis, polymyositis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Cold or numbness in the toes may be a symptom of Raynaud's phenomenon.
Cold or numbness in the toes may be a symptom of Raynaud's phenomenon.

Other possible causes of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon include carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive arterial disease and some medications. Certain occupations that involve exposure to certain chemicals or toxic substances, or those that involve the use of vibrating tools, such as a jackhammer, can also trigger the secondary form of the disorder.

Although there is no cure for Raynaud's phenomenon, drug treatment is successful in some cases. Oral medications include calcium channel blockers and alpha blockers. Calcium channel blockers, which dilate the blood vessels and promote circulation, work for many patients. Some patients who have developed skin ulcers apply a nitroglycerin paste to affected fingers.

Discussion Comments

Renegade

This may be due to the fact that stress can affect some people in much more drastic ways than it affects others. Learning to relax and enjoy the unexpected quirks of life may actually be a helpful way to combat this issue.

Juxtapose

Why would you give a calcium channel blocker for one simple effect? Niacinamides have shown in many studies do a very good job of regulating nerve function and health, vascular dilation, flushing and warming of skin. While increasing insulin secretions and insulin response, often side effects include better mood from lack of a glycemic jumping jacks all day (technical term by the way). Although it is interesting that Uhthoff's phenomenon in multiple sclerosis patients is the exact opposite onset, heat and stress can trigger its episodes instead of cold and stress, but has some of the same underlying nervous system stress'.

I have a friend that has raynaud's she thought it was only hypoglycemia, since she would recover if she ate a snack. her hands would hurt and go spottie white and grow cold in times of stress it would be at its worst. She does have epstein-barr, which is a common factor in MS as well as chronic inflammation

or viral/retroviral such as mononucleosis or like my friend chronic inner ear infections along with epstein-barr, might trigger an autoimmune response but the effects might not be noticed till much later. If there was a significant degredation to the posterior hypothalamus the tempature regulators for both the central and peripheral tempature sernsors might become chaotic. Showing signs of a simular but

asymetrical reversal of phenomenon, not to mention one neurodegenerative and the other a peripheraly targeted nervedegenerations chronic persistence might mean the same fliped switch or faulty gene in the stimulation of the bodys stem cell response. both sheaths, nervous and neuroaxons should be rebuildable.

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    • Carpal tunnel syndrome may cause secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.
      By: ruigsantos
      Carpal tunnel syndrome may cause secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.
    • Not smoking will help patients who suffer from Raynaud's phenomenon to prevent attacks.
      By: ra2 studio
      Not smoking will help patients who suffer from Raynaud's phenomenon to prevent attacks.
    • Numbness and tingling in the fingers may inhibit an individual's ability to perform basic tasks, such as teeth brushing.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Numbness and tingling in the fingers may inhibit an individual's ability to perform basic tasks, such as teeth brushing.
    • Cold or numbness in the toes may be a symptom of Raynaud's phenomenon.
      By: Andrew Lewis
      Cold or numbness in the toes may be a symptom of Raynaud's phenomenon.
    • One form of Raynaud's phenomenon may occur in people who have connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma.
      By: Laurin Rinder
      One form of Raynaud's phenomenon may occur in people who have connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma.
    • People with Raynaud's phenomenon may experience tingling fingers.
      By: Dmitry
      People with Raynaud's phenomenon may experience tingling fingers.
    • Someone with Raynaud's phenomenon may experience changes in fingertip colors when exposed to cold temperatures.
      By: jura
      Someone with Raynaud's phenomenon may experience changes in fingertip colors when exposed to cold temperatures.