Raynaud's Disease
Raynaud’s disease is basically a condition which affects the supply of blood to the toes, fingers and sometimes to the ears and nose. It can be classified as one of the two types: primary or idiopathic and secondary which is also called as Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Primary Raynaud’s disease contains no predisposing factor, is milder and leads to fewer complications. Nearly half of all cases of Raynaud’s disease are of this kind. It can take place without any other related disease or symptoms. The fingers are the most commonly affected area, but the toes are also affected in 40% of people with Raynaud’s.
Raynaud’s phenomenon often affects women, particularly in the second, third, or fourth decades of life. Raynaud’s phenomenon can be possessed by people alone or a part of other rheumatic diseases. When it happens alone, it is referred to as primary Raynaud’s phenomenon or Raynaud’s disease.When it accompanies other diseases, it is called as secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Raynaud’s phenomenon is basically a disorder which affects the blood vessels in the toes, fingers, ears and nose. This disorder is characterized by episodic attacks, called as vasospastic attacks that cause the blood vessels in the digits to get narrowed. Raynaud’s phenomenon can take place on its own or it can be secondary to another condition like lupus or scleroderma.
Signs and symptoms of Raynaud’s disease
Sensations of coldness, paresthesias, burning pain, irregular color changes of more than one digit are precipitated by exposure to cold, vibration or emotional stress. All can be reversed by removing the stimulus. Re-warming the hands accelerates the restoration of normal color and sensation.
When disorder takes place without any known cause, it is called as Raynaud’s disease or primary Raynaud’s. When the condition takes place with a likely cause, it is known as secondary Raynaud’s or Raynaud’s phenomenon. Primary Raynaud’s is more common and is likely to be less severe as compared to secondary Raynaud’s.
Causes of Raynaud’s disease
Raynaud’s episodes can be found out by cold, either by touching cold objects or by being in a cold environment, body particularly lessens flow of blood by constricting the small arteries beneath the skin of your extremities.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made and primary and secondary forms are clinically distinguished, supported by blood testing and nail fold capillaroscopy.
Prevention
Raynaud’s disease is prevented by following ways:
- By wearing clothing of thermal fabrics
- By quitting smoking
- By changing job of vibration induces
- By avoiding sympathetic stimulants