Raynaud's disease or phenomenon is a disorder that affects a person’s blood vessels in the fingers, and sometimes the toes. Learn more about this disorder by taking this quiz.
1. If you have Raynaud's phenomenon, you will know it because because your skin changes color when you are exposed to cold.
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The main symptoms of Raynaud's are a change in skin color and a change in skin temperature. Skin color changes from white to blue to red. Skin temperature is cooler in the affected areas. It's common for the affected areas to feel numb or prickly, cold, or painful.
2. For people with Raynaud's phenomenon, their fingers and toes turn white because of a lack of iron.
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The change in color has to do with blood flow. The small blood vessels in the fingers and toes that feed the skin contract in cold. This limits the amount of blood that flows. Without blood, the skin first turns white then blue. The skin returns to its normal color as blood flows again. Extremities—hands and feet—are most commonly affected. But Raynaud's can attack other areas such as the nose and ears.
3. One cause of Raynaud's phenomenon is an abnormal reaction to cold temperatures.
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The most common cause of Raynaud's phenomenon is an overreaction to cold temperatures, but it may be triggered by other causes. These include medicines that affect blood pressure or make blood vessels narrow, and certain emotions.
4. Stress can also trigger an attack of Raynaud's phenomenon.
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Cold temperatures are more likely to bring on an attack if you are physically or emotionally stressed. For some people, exposure to cold isn't even necessary. Stress alone causes blood vessels to narrow.
5. Raynaud's phenomenon affects mostly women older than 50.
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Women ages 15 to 30 are most likely to have Raynaud's, although anyone can develop the condition.
6. Raynaud's occurs only if you have other health conditions.
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Raynaud's may occur on its own. This is called primary Raynaud’s and is the more common form. The other form happens along with another health condition. These include arthritis, scleroderma, nerve problems, and pulmonary hypertension.
7. People with Raynaud's should not go outdoors in cold weather.
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They can go outdoors if they wear the correct clothing. They should wear scarves, warm socks, boots, and mittens or gloves.
8. People with Raynaud's should wear mittens when removing items from the refrigerator or freezer.
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Reaching into a refrigerator may trigger an attack. You can also use oven mitts or potholders for cold items.
9. It's possible to prevent attacks by learning biofeedback techniques.
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After several sessions of training, people can often prevent or stop attacks using biofeedback. With this technique, you are taught to "think" your fingers or toes warm.
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Author: Sinovic, Dianna
Online Medical Reviewer: Horowitz, Diane, MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Sather, Rita, RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Turley, Raymond Kent, MSN, RN
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