3. Raynaud's (ray-NOHZ) disease
• Raynaud's (ray-NOHZ) disease causes
some areas of your body — such as your
fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in
response to cold temperatures or stress.
In Raynaud's disease, smaller arteries that
supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting
blood circulation to affected areas
(vasospasm).
• Women are more likely than men to have
Raynaud's disease
6. Primary vs. secondary Raynaud's
• There are two main types of the condition.
• Primary Raynaud's. Also called Raynaud's disease, this most
common form isn't the result of an associated medical condition. It
can be so mild that many people with primary Raynaud's don't seek
treatment. And it can resolve on its own.
• Secondary Raynaud's. Also called Raynaud's phenomenon, this
form is caused by an underlying problem. Although secondary
Raynaud's is less common than the primary form, it tends to be
more serious.
• Signs and symptoms of secondary Raynaud's usually appear around
age 40, later than they do for primary Raynaud's.
7.
8. Causes of Raynaud's
• Connective tissue diseases
• Diseases of the arteries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Repetitive action or vibration.
• Smoking
• Injuries to the hands or feet
• Certain medications (beta blockers chemotherapy agents)
9. Risk factors
Risk factors for primary Raynaud's include:
• Sex. More women than men are affected.
• Age. Although anyone can develop the condition,
primary Raynaud's often begins between the
ages of 15 and 30.
• Climate. The disorder is also more common in
people who live in colder climates.
• Family history. A first-degree relative — a parent,
sibling or child — having the disease appears to
increase your risk of primary Raynaud's.
10. Risk factors for secondary Raynaud's
include
• Associated diseases. These include conditions
such as scleroderma and lupus.
• Certain occupations. These include jobs that
cause repetitive trauma, such as operating
tools that vibrate.
• Exposure to certain substances. This includes
smoking, taking medications that affect the
blood vessels and being exposed to certain
chemicals, such as vinyl chloride.
11. Prevention
To help prevent Raynaud's attacks:
• Bundle up outdoors. When it's cold, don a hat, scarf, socks and
boots, and two layers of mittens or gloves before you go outside.
Wear a coat with snug cuffs to go around your mittens or gloves, to
prevent cold air from reaching your hands.
• Use chemical hand warmers. Wear earmuffs and a face mask if the
tip of your nose and your earlobes are sensitive to cold.
• Warm your car. Run your car heater for a few minutes before
driving in cold weather.
• Take precautions indoors. Wear socks. When taking food out of
the refrigerator or freezer, wear gloves, mittens or oven mitts. Some
people find it helpful to wear mittens and socks to bed during winter.
• Because air conditioning can trigger attacks, set your air conditioner
to a warmer temperature. Use insulated drinking glasses.
12. Diagnosis OR Investigations
• Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and
medical history and conduct a physical
examination. Your doctor might also run tests
to rule out other medical problems that can
cause similar signs and symptoms
13. nail fold capillaroscopy
• To distinguish between primary and secondary Raynaud's,
your doctor might perform a test called nail fold
capillaroscopy. During the test, the doctor examines the skin
at the base of your fingernail under a microscope or magnifier
for deformities or enlargement of the tiny blood vessels
(capillaries)
14. • If your doctor suspects that another condition, such
as an autoimmune or connective tissue disease,
underlies Raynaud's, he or she will likely order
blood tests, such as
• Antinuclear antibodies test.
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
• No one blood test can diagnose Raynaud's
15. Treatment
• Dressing for the cold in layers and wearing gloves or heavy
socks usually are effective in dealing with mild symptoms of
Raynaud's. Medications are available to treat more-severe
forms of the condition.
• Calcium channel blockers. nifedipine
• Vasodilators. nitroglycerin cream
16. Surgeries and medical procedures
• Nerve surgery.
Sympathetic nerves in your hands and feet control the opening and narrowing
of blood vessels in your skin
Cutting these nerves interrupts their exaggerated responses.
• Chemical injection.
Doctors can inject chemicals such as local anesthetics or type A (Botox) to
block sympathetic nerves in affected hands or feet. You might need to have
the procedure repeated if symptoms return or persist.
