Raynaud's disease
What is Raynaud's disease?
If you have Raynaud's, your fingers, toes and other parts of your body can suddenly become numb, white and cold.
This happens because blood can't get to these parts of your body.
When you have an attack of Raynaud's in your hands, they turn white, then blue.
Then they go blue because they're not getting enough oxygen.
As the blood returns, they go very red. They may then feel hot and painful.
Raynaud's disease is named after the doctor who first linked having the attacks with going out in the cold.
1
Source:
Wigley FM.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347: 1001-1008.
Wigley FM.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347: 1001-1008.
These sudden Raynaud's attacks happen because small blood vessels in your fingers and toes suddenly become narrow and stop
your blood from flowing normally. This can also happen to your nose and earlobes and, more rarely, your nipples and tongue.
2 Attacks usually happen because of cold temperatures but some people get attacks if they feel upset or stressed.
2
Source:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Questions and answers about Raynaud's phenomenon.
June 2006. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Raynauds_Phenomenon/default.asp (accessed on 12 December 2008).
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Questions and answers about Raynaud's phenomenon.
June 2006. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Raynauds_Phenomenon/default.asp (accessed on 12 December 2008).
Source:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Questions and answers about Raynaud's phenomenon.
June 2006. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Raynauds_Phenomenon/default.asp (accessed on 12 December 2008).
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Questions and answers about Raynaud's phenomenon.
June 2006. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Raynauds_Phenomenon/default.asp (accessed on 12 December 2008).
You don't have to get really cold for an attack to begin. People who have Raynaud's have blood vessels that are more sensitive
to cool weather. Just a small change in temperature can trigger an attack.
When the blood flows back into your hand, it will look red and feel hot.
In most people with Raynaud's, the disease isn't connected to any serious medical problem. In fact, nobody knows what causes
it.
1
Source:
Wigley FM.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347: 1001-1008.
Wigley FM.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347: 1001-1008.
You can get Raynaud's at any age although some research has shown most people get symptoms before the age of 40.
3 Sometimes the condition runs in families.
4
Source:
Planchon B, Pistorius MA, Beurrier P, et al.
Primary Raynaud's phenomenon: age of onset and pathogenesis in a prospective study of 424 patients.
Angiology. 1994; 45: 677-686.
Planchon B, Pistorius MA, Beurrier P, et al.
Primary Raynaud's phenomenon: age of onset and pathogenesis in a prospective study of 424 patients.
Angiology. 1994; 45: 677-686.
Source:
Block J.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
Lancet. 2001; 357: 2042-2048.
Block J.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
Lancet. 2001; 357: 2042-2048.
Some people have Raynaud's caused by a more serious illness, such as lupus (a disorder of your
immune system that can affect many different parts of the body) and
rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms are often much more serious.
4 Some people get Raynaud's because of medications they are taking, such as
beta-blockers and drugs for migraines. And people who work with vibrating tools, such as road diggers, also have a higher chance of getting
it.
5
immune system
The immune system is made up of the parts of the body that are devoted to fighting infection. The body is constantly being threatened by infections from things like bacteria, viruses and parasites. The immune system fights these infections in different ways. At the microscopic level, the immune system uses antibodies and white blood cells, which travel in the blood and target infectious agents, such as bacteria. These microscopic parts of the immune system either kill the infectious agent directly, or take it to other parts of the body, like the spleen, where it can be dealt with. The lymph nodes are another important part of the immune system. Within them, white blood cells filter through the foreign material that has entered the blood, to see if there are any infections. When you have a swollen gland during a cold, this is actually a lymph node that is reacting to the infection. Unfortunately, it is possible for the immune system to become confused and to use its destructive powers to target healthy parts of the body. Diseases that result from this type of situation are called autoimmune diseases.
The immune system is made up of the parts of the body that are devoted to fighting infection. The body is constantly being threatened by infections from things like bacteria, viruses and parasites. The immune system fights these infections in different ways. At the microscopic level, the immune system uses antibodies and white blood cells, which travel in the blood and target infectious agents, such as bacteria. These microscopic parts of the immune system either kill the infectious agent directly, or take it to other parts of the body, like the spleen, where it can be dealt with. The lymph nodes are another important part of the immune system. Within them, white blood cells filter through the foreign material that has entered the blood, to see if there are any infections. When you have a swollen gland during a cold, this is actually a lymph node that is reacting to the infection. Unfortunately, it is possible for the immune system to become confused and to use its destructive powers to target healthy parts of the body. Diseases that result from this type of situation are called autoimmune diseases.
rheumatoid arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints get painful, swollen and stiff. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation inside your joints. It happens when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints get painful, swollen and stiff. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation inside your joints. It happens when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.
Source:
Block J.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
Lancet. 2001; 357: 2042-2048.
Block J.
Raynaud's phenomenon.
Lancet. 2001; 357: 2042-2048.
beta-blockers
These drugs work by blocking the effects of certain chemicals produced by your body (such as adrenaline). Beta-blockers slow your heart rate and improve the beating of your heart. They are often used in people with angina or heart failure.
These drugs work by blocking the effects of certain chemicals produced by your body (such as adrenaline). Beta-blockers slow your heart rate and improve the beating of your heart. They are often used in people with angina or heart failure.
Source:
Komura Y, Yoshida H, Nagata C, et al.
Differences in the prevalences of Raynaud's phenomenon in general; populations in general; populations living in a mountain area and in a plain area.
Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 1992; 39: 421-427.
Komura Y, Yoshida H, Nagata C, et al.
Differences in the prevalences of Raynaud's phenomenon in general; populations in general; populations living in a mountain area and in a plain area.
Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 1992; 39: 421-427.
Here, we are only looking at treatments for Raynaud's that is not connected to a more serious condition.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Wigley FM.Raynaud's phenomenon.New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347: 1001-1008.
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Questions and answers about Raynaud's phenomenon.June 2006. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Raynauds_Phenomenon/default.asp (accessed on 12 December 2008).
- Planchon B, Pistorius MA, Beurrier P, et al.Primary Raynaud's phenomenon: age of onset and pathogenesis in a prospective study of 424 patients.Angiology. 1994; 45: 677-686.
- Block J.Raynaud's phenomenon.Lancet. 2001; 357: 2042-2048.
- Komura Y, Yoshida H, Nagata C, et al.Differences in the prevalences of Raynaud's phenomenon in general; populations in general; populations living in a mountain area and in a plain area.Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 1992; 39: 421-427.
This information was last updated on Jan 09, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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