Raynaud’s Syndrome Wiki

 


If you suffer from chronic and permanent cold in your extremities during the winter, and you are unable to warm your extremities easily, then you may have Raynaud’s phenomenon. Raynaud’s phenomenon is a rare disorder caused by narrowing of the blood vessels (arteries) that supply the extremities, such as the toes, hands, nose, ears, and surface of the skin, with blood that maintains body temperature.

This happens as a severe reaction to the cold and leads to a permanent feeling of coldness and numbness in the extremities and a blanching and then blueness of the skin, sometimes as a result of a lack of ischemia and insufficient blood flow thru the blood vessels to it. With the return of blood, the skin becomes red with a feeling of numbness and tingling.

When the temperature drops, the body, as a natural reaction, withdraws blood from the surface area of the skin and from the extremities to the vital internal organs to warm them and protect them from cold. The natural and this is called vasospasm, and the return of the body to its normal temperature after the removal of the cold requires a longer time or needs heating more than usual.

In most cases, Raynaud’s phenomenon does not lead to permanent or long-term damage to the tissues, nor does it lead to disability, but in rare cases of Raynaud’s Syndrome, some complications may occur if the blood supply to the extremities is prolonged for a while, as the interruption may cause painful ulcers or death of tissues in the skin in advanced cases. Or what is known as gangrene.

Raynaud’s phenomenon often affects people who live in cold areas more than those who live in warm areas. It is worth mentioning that women are more susceptible to Raynaud’s phenomenon than males. Raynaud’s phenomenon is divided into two types

Raynaud’s phenomenon of the primary type (Raynaud’s disease):

The first type of this phenomenon is what we focus on here, and it is called Raynaud’s disease. It is an independent disease that results without the presence of another disease causing it, and its cause is not known specifically, even if it is believed that genetic factors are involved in it.

It can be considered a type of sensitivity to cold and most often develops in young women in their teens and early adulthood. It is believed to be a genetic disease although no specific genes have yet been identified.

Smoking increases the frequency and severity of attacks, and there is a hormonal component as well.
Caffeine also exacerbates attacks. Those with it are more likely to have migraines and angina. Often, a doctor cannot determine the exact cause of Raynaud’s.

Raynaud’s phenomenon of secondary type (Raynaud’s syndrome):

Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, or Raynaud’s syndrome, is a symptom that goes hand in hand with another disease that causes it. Here are some of the causes that may lead to the occurrence of Raynaud’s syndrome.

Connective tissue disorders:

  • Scleroderma
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sjögren syndrome
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Muscle inflammation
  • Cryogenic agglutinin disease
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

eating disorders

  • related to anorexia nervosa.

Obstructive disorders

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Buerger’s disease
  • Takayasu’s arteritis
  • Subclavian aneurysm
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome

Medicines

  • Beta blockers (beta blockers)
  • Cytotoxic drugs, especially chemotherapy, especially bleomycin
  • Cyclosporin
  • Ergotamine is a medicine used to treat migraine headaches.
  • ”sulfasalazine”
  • Anthrax vaccines and their main components Anthrax protective antigen

Occupation

  • Jobs involving vibration, especially drilling, suffer from white finger vibration.
  • Exposure to vinyl chloride and mercury
  • Exposure to cold (e.g., by working in frozen food packaging)
  • Malignant tumors
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
  • ”Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”
  • Magnesium deficiency
  • Painful redness of the extremities (in contrast to Raynaud’s, in which the extremities become warm and hot) often co-exists in patients with Raynaud’s.

other reasons

  • Hypothyroidism “hypothyroidism”
  • The presence of cryoglobulinemia in the blood

Raynaud’s disease prevention methods

  • Submerge the fingers of the hands in warm water at the first sign of an attack.
  • Keep hands and feet warm in cold weather.

Raynaud’s disease symptoms

Signs and symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon are caused by hypothermia or psychological stress. And when symptoms do appear, we call that condition an “attack.” These attacks usually affect the fingers and toes. In rare cases, attacks can affect the nose, ears, nipples, or lips. During an attack, the blood vessels become very narrow. As a result, blood flow to the affected area is cut off, or nearly cut off. This may lead to the affected area:

  • paleness, or blanching and then cyanosis.
  • feelings of numbness, coldness, or pain.
  • Redness, throbbing, tingling, burning, or numbness when blood flow returns to the area.

The attack can last less than one minute, and sometimes it can last for several hours. Attacks can occur daily or weekly. The attack often begins on one finger of the hand or foot, and then spreads to the rest of the fingers. In some cases, only one or two fingers are affected by the attack. Different areas can be affected at different times. Severe cases of Raynaud’s phenomenon can lead to skin ulcers or gangrene. Gangrene is the death or decomposition of body tissues. The tissue dies when it does not receive blood for a long time. But severe attacks of Raynaud’s phenomenon are rare.

How is it diagnosed?

A doctor diagnoses Raynaud’s based on the patient’s medical history and physical examination, as well as on the results of examinations and tests. A cold alert test may be done to trigger symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon. For this test, the hands are briefly placed in ice water. A small device is used to measure how quickly the fingers return to their normal temperature. If the patient has Raynaud’s phenomenon, it may take more than twenty minutes for the fingers to return to their normal state.

Also, a microscopic examination of the hairs of the nail fold can be done to look for the presence of abnormal arteries in the fingers. In this procedure, a drop of special oil is placed at the base of the nail, and the nail is examined under a microscope to see the arteries. There are other tests and procedures, such as blood tests, that can be used to look for conditions that may be related to Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Raynaud’s phenomenon treatment

There is no cure for Raynaud’s phenomenon. But treatment can reduce the number and severity of attacks. Treatment includes lifestyle changes, medication, and, in rare cases, surgery. Most people with Raynaud’s phenomenon manage the condition with some lifestyle changes. These changes can help the patient avoid things that can trigger an attack of Raynaud’s phenomenon, such as cold weather or stress. To protect against the cold:

  1. Cover the body in cold weather. Also, wear layers of clothing to get more warmth, in addition to using gloves in order to protect the fingers.
  2. Use “hand and foot warmers” on the inside of gloves, shoes, socks, or pockets. These heaters are available at most sporting goods stores.
  3. Turn up the heat in the house or wear more warm clothes in cooler places.
  4. Warm up the car before driving in cold weather.
  5. Use gloves when taking food from the refrigerator or freezer if your hands are sensitive to cold.

Other factors that trigger attacks can also be avoided:

  1. Avoid things that cause you discomfort or stress.
  2. Treat stress
  3. reducing the use of hand tools that emit strong vibrations, such as electrical work tools.
  4. Use appropriate protective clothing and equipment when working in an environment containing chemicals.
  5. reducing the repetitive actions of the hands, such as playing the piano or striking the typewriter.
  6. If a drug is triggering the attacks, the patient must use an alternative drug or consult a doctor to adjust the dose of this drug. Be sure to consult a doctor to find the best option. There are other lifestyle changes that can help prevent attacks. Among these changes are:
  7. Avoid wearing narrow wristbands and rings.
  8. Doing physical activity in order to increase blood flow and keep the body warm.
  9. If the person is a smoker, they should quit.
  10. Caffeine and alcohol are prohibited.

One can also take other steps to help stop attacks when they occur by:

  1. Move to a warm place.
  2. Warm your hands or feet with warm water.
  3. Moving the arms in two circles or shaking the arms and feet.
  4. Get out of situations that cause psychological distress and try to relax.

If lifestyle changes don’t control Raynaud’s, you may need medication or surgery. There are oral medications and prescription creams that can be used to improve blood flow to the fingers and toes. Severe cases of Raynaud’s phenomenon may be treated with surgery or by using injections to block the nerves that control the arteries in the hands and feet. This may be useful in preventing attacks. In some rare cases, patients with severe cases of Raynaud’s phenomenon can develop skin ulcers or gangrene.

If this happens, antibiotics or surgery may be needed to cut away the affected tissue. In some serious cases, the affected finger may be amputated.

 See your doctor right away if Raynaud’s phenomenon leads to sores on the fingers or toes, or on other parts of the body. Early treatment can be helpful in preventing the patient from developing permanent damage to these areas.

You must take care of your hands and feet. This means protecting them from cuts, bruises, and other injuries. It is also recommended to use moisturizers for the skin to protect it from drying and cracking.

summary

Raynaud’s phenomenon is divided into two types: Raynaud’s disease, the cause of which is unknown, and Raynaud’s syndrome, which comes with another disease, a rare disorder of the blood vessels. It usually affects the fingers and toes. People with this disorder experience attacks that cause blood vessels to narrow. This leads to blanching and cyanosis of the affected areas. When the Raynaud’s phenomenon ends, the blood vessels widen again.

The skin becomes red, and the patient may feel numbness or blood pulsing in it. In severe cases, the interruption in blood flow can lead to ulcers or tissue death. Cold weather or emotional stress triggers the symptoms and signs of Raynaud’s phenomenon. Attacks of this disease usually affect the fingers and toes.

In rare cases, attacks can affect the nose, ears, nipples, or lips. There is no cure for Raynaud’s phenomenon. But there are treatments that can reduce the number of attacks and lessen their severity. Treatment includes lifestyle changes, medication, and, in rare cases, surgery. If Raynaud’s phenomenon leads to ulcers on the fingers or toes, or on other parts of the body, you should consult your doctor immediately. Early treatment can be helpful in preventing the patient from developing permanent damage to these areas.

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