Wintertime is here, and you鈥檙e going to get cold. There鈥檚 no getting around having chilly hands sometimes. But what does it mean when your hands just can鈥檛 warm back up? You may have a condition known as (also referred to as Raynaud鈥檚 Disease or Raynaud鈥檚 Syndrome).
What Does This Mean?
Raynaud鈥檚 Phenomenon is a condition when the small blood vessels in body parts such as fingers and toes constrict in response to cold temperatures or stressful situations, decreasing blood flow to the area. This can cause the fingers to turn different colors, such as purple, blue, or white, and can also result in pain, tingling, or numbness. The fingers will also become bright red when the blood flow returns.
鈥淵our blood vessels around the fingers constrict naturally anyway, but Raynaud鈥檚 Phenomenon is an overexuberant or unnatural pathologic response to a cold stimuli,鈥 says Christopher Goodenough, MD, MPH, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at 极速六合彩.
Raynaud鈥檚 is a common condition that affects in the United States. While Raynaud鈥檚 can be bothersome, it鈥檚 usually nothing to be too concerned about. However, it鈥檚 important to keep it under control so that it doesn鈥檛 become dangerous.
鈥淚t can progress to where people are chronically not getting enough blood flow to their fingers, and it can cause wounds,鈥 Goodenough says. 鈥淚n the most severe cases, the fingers aren鈥檛 getting enough blood, and the finger can鈥檛 survive.鈥
If your fingers are routinely turning colors in the cold to the point where you are experiencing regular discomfort, or if you have developed wounds on your fingers, it鈥檚 time to see a doctor.
The Different Types
There are two types of Raynaud鈥檚 Phenomenon: primary and secondary.
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Primary Raynaud鈥檚: The cause for primary Raynaud鈥檚 is not clear. It typically has mild symptoms, such as skin color changes to purple, blue, or white, numbness, or pins and needles feeling in the fingers or toes.
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Secondary Raynaud鈥檚: Certain underlying conditions can cause secondary Raynaud鈥檚, particularly if it鈥檚 a condition that reduces blood flow to your fingers and toes. Some common causes of secondary Raynaud鈥檚 include rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, lupus, carpal tunnel syndrome, atherosclerosis, and frostbite.
However, some are related to secondary Raynaud鈥檚, such as:
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Smoking cigarettes, which constricts the blood vessels
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Occupational factors, such as frequent use of heavy power tools like chainsaws or sanders
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Certain medications, including beta blockers and some chemotherapy agents
Keeping the Cold Under Control
You can help control Raynaud鈥檚 attacks by avoiding triggers. Some helpful lifestyle changes to keep your Raynaud鈥檚 at bay include the following:
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Keep hand warmers and mittens within reach, especially if you know you鈥檙e going to be in cold conditions.
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Avoid getting your hands and feet wet. Pack an extra pair of dry mittens and socks just in case.
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Keep your home or office warm.
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Wear plenty of layers to ensure your whole body stays warm.
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Wear oven mitts if you need to reach into the fridge or freezer.
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Use a beverage sleeve when drinking something cold.
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Get plenty of exercise to encourage blood circulation.
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Avoid smoking cigarettes.
If these measures aren鈥檛 working, talk with your doctor to discuss potential medications that improve circulation. If you have secondary Raynaud鈥檚, be sure you are adequately treating the underlying condition that is causing it.
Another intervention that can help with Raynaud鈥檚 is Botox.
鈥淵our blood vessels have muscles around them that control exactly how much blood flow you鈥檙e getting,鈥 Goodenough says. 鈥淚f we can relax those muscles using Botox, a lot of times that helps people鈥檚 symptoms.鈥
If you have severe Raynaud鈥檚, meaning you have wounds or all other treatment options have failed, you may be a candidate for . In this procedure, some of the nerves and muscles around the blood vessels are removed.
Your doctor will help you determine which course of treatment is most appropriate for your Raynaud鈥檚.