When temperatures drop, some people’s fingers turn a whitish color and become numb. What if Raynaud’s disease was hiding behind this reaction? We take stock of this pathology which affects the extremities.
- Raynaud’s disease most often presents during adolescence. It affects 6% of women between the ages of 25 and 40.
- In 90% of cases, the origin of Raynaud’s syndrome, which is triggered by exposure to cold, is not determined.
- The treatment of this pathology is mainly based on non-drug measures. If these do not work, medication can be prescribed.
In winter, it can happen to have cold hands or feet. But when this reaction is exacerbated and becomes painful, it can indicate Raynaud’s disease. It is a paroxysmal blood circulation disorder of short duration. This condition, which most often occurs in adolescence, is not serious but it has an impact on the quality of life of patients who suffer from it.
Extremities affected
This pathology is generally triggered by exposure to cold. But seizures can also occur due to stress, temperature change, smoking, or exposure to humidity. Raynaud’s syndrome primarily affects the fingers. These can become white, cold, less sensitive and painful. The toes, nose and ears are sometimes affected by this blood circulation disorder.
“It is a vasomotor disorder, due to the temporary contraction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction) which deprives the extremities of the blood and oxygen supply. This abnormal, sudden and temporary stoppage of arterial circulation is responsible for the onset of symptoms. “, explains the health insurance.
The causes of Raynaud’s disease
In 90% of cases, the cause of Raynaud’s syndrome is unknown. In 10% of cases, it is caused by diseases of the arteries, autoimmune pathologies or taking certain medications, such as beta-blockers.
When a patient suffers from symptoms suggestive of Raynaud’s disease, he must consult his doctor so that the practitioner can confirm the diagnosis. During the consultation, the healthcare professional looks for the origin of the clinical signs. He may ask the patient to perform blood tests, if the symptoms have worsened. Other possible examinations: an arterial echo-Doppler of the upper limbs or a periungual capillaroscopy (which consists in observing the small blood vessels of the fold of skin).
What to do in case of Raynaud’s syndrome?
To reduce the frequency and intensity of symptoms of this trouble blood circulation, certain precautions should be taken. In case of Raynaud’s disease, it is necessary to protect its extremities from the cold and the humidity thanks to mittens. It is also advisable to massage your fingers and avoid sudden changes in temperature. During attacks, patients with the syndrome can warm their hands and feet by putting them in a basin of warm water. But it is strongly advised not to place their ends under hot water as this could cause burns.
Treatment for Raynaud’s disease differs depending on its cause. If non-drug measures are not effective, the doctor may prescribe calcium channel blockers to widen the arteries and vasodilators to increase blood caliber.
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