At age 13, while watching TV indoors, my daughter complained of loss of feeling in her feet and showed me her white, cold-to-the-touch toes. I was surprised to see her feet go through color changes as I rubbed them, and was sorry to hear my daughter complain of pain during these transitions. I discounted the experience as a “fluke” and reassured her that it probably wouldn’t happen again. Then, the episodes began occurring regularly and we sought help. The diagnosis of Raynaud’s Disease was surprising and perplexing. Here is what we learned
What is Raynaud’s?
The disease causes arteries to your fingers and toes spasm when exposed to cold or stress, narrowing your vessels and temporarily limiting blood supply. Over time, these small arteries may thicken slightly, further limiting blood flow. The condition can also affect other areas of the body, such as the nose, lips, ears and even nipples.
Raynaud’s is classified into two main types: primary and secondary
- Primary: This is the most common form and is not the result of an underlying medical condition. Onset can be at a very young age and is occasionally discounted as attention seeking behavior when a child complains of symptoms.
- Secondary: This is caused by an underlying problem related to diseases of the arteries or connective tissue disease. These symptoms usually occur in later life.
Signs and symptoms
- Cold fingers or toes
- Color changes in the skin in response to cold or stress
- Numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief
During an attack, affected areas of the skin usually first turn white, then blue and feel cold or numb. As the circulation improves, the affected areas may turn red, throb, tingle or swell. Remember, color changes do not always occur, and the order of occurrence varies.
Are you at risk?
Risk factors include:
- Gender: Affects more women than men
- Age: Anyone can develop the condition, but it often begins between the ages of 15 and 30
- Climate: More common in people who live in colder climates
- Family History: About one-third of people with primary Raynaud’s have a parent, sibling or child with the disorder
Diagnosis
While no Raynaud’s test exists, you can bring important information to your healthcare provider:
- When did you first notice your symptoms?
- What seems to trigger an attack?
- During an attack, do your fingers or toes change color or feel numb or painful?
- Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with Raynaud’s?
Raynaud’s disease is usually treated with medication, but more severe conditions may require surgery.
