Raynaud’s Phenomenon is a condition that results in impaired blood flow to the fingers and sometimes the ears, knees, nose, or toes. Blood vessel spasms cause this reduction in blood flow for multiple reasons, such as cold, stress, or emotional distress.
There are two forms of Raynaud’s Phenomenon. They are:
The primary form is more common and often occurs in youth aged 15 to 25. The secondary form is rare but more severe than the primary form.
Raynaud’s Phenomenon causes the affected areas to turn purple, and the person starts to feel cold and numb. After the skin warms up, the blood flow gradually improves, but there are chances of discolouration, throbbing, or swelling of the affected area. Some of the major symptoms of Raynaud’s Phenomenon are:
Primary Raynaud’s is so mild that many people with this problem don’t seek any medication or treatment; it usually goes away independently.
On the other hand, secondary Raynaud’s Phenomenon tends to be more serious than primary and can be caused due to the following reasons:
Certain factors increase the risk of developing this condition. These factors include:
Doctors usually diagnose Raynaud’s Phenomenon by examining the patient’s medical history, along with a physical examination. This can be done by a cold challenge examination, in which a doctor or healthcare provider observes the colour changes of hands and fingers. Blood tests can further confirm the disease diagnosis and determine if it is in primary or secondary form.
Make sure to treat Raynaud’s Phenomenon as soon as you notice symptoms, as treatment can be complicated, and sores may appear on the finger pads, leading to gangrene. Gangrene is rare but is considered one of the adverse complications of Raynaud’s if not treated.
The treatment of Raynaud’s depends on the symptoms exhibited by the patient. However, there is no cure for Raynaud’s Phenomenon, the below-mentioned treatments and preventions can manage it:
Consult your doctor before starting any medications and discuss their risks, benefits and side effects.