Raynaud's Syndrome
by Kynzie Ashbaugh
What is Raynaud's Syndrome?
Raynaud's Syndrome is when arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow and constrict which limits the circulation of blood to the affected areas which are usually the fingers and toes but in some cases can affect the nose, ears, and lips. The constriction of these arteries causes these areas of the body to feel numb in response to either cold temperatures or stress (Mayo Clinic Staff).
WHO IS AT RISK?
This disease primarily affects women who are under the age of 30 and living in a cold climate. It may also occur in members of the same family. Almost one-third of people with Primary Raynaud's have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with the disease as well (Mayo Clinic Staff).
TYPES OF RAYNAUD'S SYNDROME
Primary Raynaud's
With Primary Raynaud's, the cause of the numbness episodes is not known. This type of Raynaud's is the most common and is usually less severe than Secondary Raynaud's. Primary Raynaud's is commonly referred to as Raynaud's disease (Mayo Clinic Staff).
Secondary Raynaud's
Secondary Raynaud's is usually caused by an underlying disease or condition. When a person has Secondary Raynaud's, they are more prone to severe episodes of numbness. These episodes last longer than episodes a person has when they have Primary Raynaud's. Secondary Raynaud's is commonly referred to as Raynaud's Phenomenon (Mayo Clinic Staff).
SYMPTOMS
Most symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome depend on how frequent the episodes occur, how long they last, and how severe they are. These episodes are blood vessel spams that underlie the disease. Some symptoms include cold fingers and toes, or color changes in your skin in response to cold or stress. During an episode or attack of Raynaud's, the affected areas of your body will turn white at first, and then blue due to lack of blood flow. They will then feel cold and numb until they warm up and circulation improves (Mayo Clinic Staff). These attacks can last a minute long or several hours, and they can occur daily or weekly. Most of the attacks will begin in one finger or toe and then spread to others (NIH). The affected areas will then throb and swell as blood flow returns. Although the order of the changing colors may not be the same for everyone experiencing Raynaud's, most people will go through many changes in color and feeling in their affected areas (Mayo Clinic Staff).
CAUSES
It is not known what causes Primary Raynaud's. However, Secondary Raynaud's can be caused by a number of things such as diseases and conditions that directly damage arteries or nerves that control the arteries of the hands and feet, repetitive actions that damage the arteries in the hands and feet, injuries to the hands and feet, exposure to certain chemicals, or medicines that narrow the arteries or are meant to affect blood pressure. Some diseases that may cause Raynaud's include Rheumatoid Arthritis, Atherosclerosis, Lupus, or Scleroderma. Any action that may be "repetitive", such as typing on a computer, playing the piano, or using a drill, may lead to damaged arteries in the hands that may cause Raynaud's (NIH). Medicines that may cause Raynaud's include certain cancer medicines, birth control pills, or migraine headache medicines. Other things that may cause Raynaud's include carpal tunnel syndrome and smoking (May0 Clinic Staff).
TREATMENTS
The treatment for Raynaud's syndrome differs depending on how severe it is and other health conditions that may be present. Goals of the treatments are to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks, prevent further tissue damage due to lack of blood flow, and treat the underlying condition. Doctors may prescribe some medicines in order to dilate blood vessels and help increase circulation. Some of these medicines include Calcium channel blockers, which help decrease the frequeny and severity of attacks, Alpha blockers, which counteract the actions of hormones that constrict the blood vessels, and vasodilators, which relax blood vessels and help promote circulation (Mayo Clinic Staff). For more mild cases of Raynaud's, doctors may recommend that you wear mittens, warm socks, and layer your clothing in the winter. They may also suggest that you move to a warmer spot during cold weather, massage your fingers and toes, and try different relaxation techniques when feeling stressed (NIH). For more severe cases, nerve surgery can be performed. In this surgery, the sympathetic nerves in your hands and feet are cut, which interrupts their exaggerated response. Another treatment for a severe case of Rayaud's would be chemical injection. A doctor can inject a local anesthetic to block the sympathetic nerves of the fingers and toes (Mayo Clinic Staff).