Raynaud's Disease

What is Raynaud's disease?

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Raynaud's disease is a non inflammatory disease of the circulation where there is spasm of the blood vessels to the peripheries resulting in a loss of normal circulation to those areas. This occurs in response to cold or emotional stress triggers.

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There are two types of Raynaud's disease:

1. Primary Raynaud's disease – no associated disease. Often present since childhood.

2. Secondary Raynaud's disease – associated with another disease such as Lupus, or Scleroderma. Comes on in adult life.

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What are the symptoms of Raynaud's disease?

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When Raynaud's disease is triggered, the areas of the peripheries such as hands fingers, toes and ears go blue, then white. There is a sharp demarcation line between skin with normal circulation and skin that has had the circulation shut down.

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It is triggered by exposure to cold and/or emotional stress. Even going to the fridge or freezer can trigger it in some people.

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The hands are the most common site affected and an attack usually begins in one finger before spreading to the others.

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Affected areas first go white, then blue. Episodes usually last between 15-20 minutes, but some can have longer lasting symptoms.

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Fingers can feel numb +/- pins and needles when they are affected.

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Who gets Raynaud's disease?

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Primary Raynaud's disease comes on in young adult hood, teenage years and early 20s.

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The onset of Raynaud's disease in later adulthood often heralds the onset of an auto-immune or other disease, perhaps not at the time, but is a warning that one may be imminent.

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What causes Raynaud's disease?

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We don't know exactly what causes it, either the primary condition or the secondary one.

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Conditions associated with secondary Raynaud's disease include:

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• Hypothyroidism

• Autoimmune connective tissue disorder such as:

  • Lupus (SLE), Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis

• Drugs or toxins such as:

  • Amphetamines and some Chemo drugs

• Hematological (blood) abnormalities such as:

  • Cryoglobulinemia, Cold Agglutinin disease, Paraproteinemia