Raynaud’s Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Raynaud’s is a condition when areas of the body such as fingers and toes feel numb or numb and also cold due to cold temperatures or stress. This disease is also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon.
In this phenomenon, the small blood vessels that supply blood to the skin narrow or vasospasm occurs. As a result, blood circulation to the area is reduced.
Treatment for this disorder depends on the severity and general health condition. Raynaud’s disease usually doesn’t cause disability, but it can affect a person’s quality of life. If left untreated, complications that occur can include tissue damage, ulcers, gangrene, and even amputation.
Women are found to be more frequently affected by this phenomenon. Raynaud’s disease is also more common in those who live in areas that have cold climates.
Raynaud’s Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon are:
- cold fingers and toes.
- changes in skin color due to the body’s response to cold weather or stress.
- numbness or numbness, pins and needles, or stinging pain when warmed or relieved from stress.
- At first, when an attack occurs the skin will turn white. After that the skin turns bluish and feels cold and numb. After blood circulation improves and has warmed up, the skin becomes red again, throbs, vibrates, or swells.
- Raynaud’s can affect any part of the skin other than the fingers and toes –such as the nose, lips, ears and nipples. Usually, blood circulation will return to normal after 15 minutes.
Raynaud’s Reason
The exact cause of Raynaud’s phenomenon is still unknown. However, it is suspected that the cause of this phenomenon is because the blood vessels in the toes and hands overreact to cold temperatures or stress.
The small blood vessels that supply blood to the skin narrow or experience vasospasm, reducing blood circulation to the area. Over time, these tiny blood vessels can thicken so that blood flow becomes more and more limited.
This phenomenon occurs in cold temperature conditions – such as putting your hand in cold water, taking something from the freezer, or being in cold weather. In some people, emotional stress can also cause Raynaud’s attacks.
Several factors increase the risk of Raynaud’s disease, including:
- women
- 15 to 30 years of age, usually has primary Raynaud’s
- cold climate
- family history
Raynaud’s Diagnosis
Doctors can determine the diagnosis of Raynaud’s phenomenon from the signs and symptoms and the patient’s medical history. A physical examination of the skin on the fingers and toes will be performed. Investigations may be carried out to rule out other possible diagnoses that have similar symptoms.
Raynaud’s Treatment
There are two types of Raynaud’s disease, primary and secondary. Primary Raynaud’s is not caused by another medical condition and does not require treatment. Primary Raynaud’s usually goes away on its own.
Meanwhile, secondary Raynaud’s is caused by other medical conditions, such as:
- connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma
- vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis
- sindrom carpal tunnel
- perform repetitive activities such as playing the piano
- using vibrating tools such as jackhammers
- injuries to hands and feet
- smoking
- taking certain medications such as beta-blockers (high blood pressure medications)
Treatment aims to reduce the frequency of attacks, prevent tissue damage, and treat the underlying medical causes of secondary Raynaud’s. Some drugs can be used to enlarge blood vessels to improve blood circulation, such as calcium channel blockers and vasodilators.
In some cases, there are times when a neurosurgical procedure is needed if it is caused by a nerve disorder. Giving injections such as anesthetics or botulinum toxin (botox) can also be considered to inhibit the reaction of the sympathetic nerves in the fingers and toes.
Prevention
The following ways can be done to prevent Raynaud’s attacks, such as:
- wearing clothes and accessories such as hats, scarves, gloves, socks, jackets, earplugs, and masks to keep warm
- warms up the vehicle in winter
- wear gloves when taking something from the freezer
- set a temperature that is warm enough or not too cold in air conditioning