Raynaud syndrome: Risk factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Raynaud phenomenon is a type of vascular disease characterized by discoloration of fingertips from pale to blue and finally red. This phenomenon is very common after exposure to cold or emotional stress. The discoloration of fingertips happens due to vasospasm.
Raynaud phenomenon is common in female especially between 20-50 years old.
Types of Raynaud phenomenon:
- Primary Raynaud phenomenon: When Raynaud phenomenon occurs alone without any underlying disease it is called primary Raynaud phenomenon.
- Secondary Raynaud phenomenon: When Raynaud phenomenon is accompanied by another diseased condition it is known as secondary Raynaud phenomenon.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of Raynaud phenomenon are:
- Cold extremities, especially fingers and toes.
- Change in color of fingers and toes either due to cold or stress.
- Tingling, numb or prickly feeling upon warming or after stress relief.
Causes of primary Raynaud phenomenon:
Primary Raynaud phenomenon is caused due to spasm in blood vessels caused either due to cold external factors or stress.
Causes of secondary Raynaud phenomenon:
The causes of secondary Raynaud phenomenon are:
- Connective tissue disorder such as scleroderma: where there is hardening and scarring of the skin. Other diseases that may cause Raynaud phenomenon are SLE, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome.
- Diseases of arteries like atherosclerosis, Buerger’s disease, and pulmonary hypertension.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, in which the median nerve is compressed causing numbness and pain in the hand, even making the hand more susceptible to cold.
- The repetitive action of the wrist such as playing the piano or any action that requires repetitive action can cause nerve injury causing numbness and tingling sensation in hands.
- Operating vibrating tools for long also causes an overuse injury.
- Smoking constricts blood vessels causing a lack of blood supply to the fingertips resulting in discoloration of fingertips followed by numbness and pricking sensation.
- Injuries to hand and feet, either fracture or even frostbite.
- Certain medicines.
Risk factors for primary Raynaud phenomenon:
- Women are at higher risk than men.
- Young women between 20-50 years are at higher risk.
- More common in people who stay in cold places.
- Family history.
Risk factors for secondary Raynaud phenomenon:
- People suffering from certain diseases like lupus, scleroderma are at higher risk.
- People with certain diseases of arteries are at higher risk.
- People who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
- People who work with vibrating tools for long.
- People who repetitively use their joints specially hand are at higher risk.
- Certain medicines
- People who smoke tobacco.
Complications:
Complications associated with Raynaud disease is very rare. The following are complications associated with raynaud disease:
- Skin ulcers
- Gangrene
- Rarely amputation of the affected part of the body.
Prevention:
The following steps can be taken to prevent Raynaud disease:
- Cover yourself before you go out in cold to prevent cold air from reaching your hand toes and body.
- Use chemical hand warmers in the exposed part of the body such as earlobes and tip of the nose to prevent them from getting cold.
- Wear socks and mittens while sleeping to prevent exposure to cold.
- Wear gloves while handling cold things.