Common Disease Could Be Why Your Fingers Turn A Different Colour In Winter

With the cold weather now well and truly set in, the annual cold fingers and toes are back with a vengeance!

And while this is nothing unusual, there are millions of people who will notice that, far from just being cold, their extremities actually feel like literal blocks of ice and visibly change colour when cold!

So if you’re one of those people who need to break out the gloves and heated slippers just to maintain a comfortable temperature in your extremities, then you may be one of millions who are suffering with an undiagnosed condition…

Yep, if you’re hands quite literally turn blue when they get a bit cold, you could have Raynaud’s disease.

“The average person can go into chilly weather and get by without gloves, their fingers would just get a bit cold,” Dr Melisa Lai Becker, told Good Morning America.

But that’s not the case for someone with Raynaud’s. “If you touch their hands, you can tell the difference,” says Dr Lai Becker said. “Even in a moderately cold environment, they have white, ice-cold hands.”

What causes Raynaud’s Disease?

According to the NHS, Raynaud’s occurs when the blood stops flowing properly to your fingers and toes. The smaller blood vessels that supply blood to the skin narrow, limiting blood flow to affected areas, known as vasospasm. Over time, these small blood vessels can thicken slightly and limit blood flow even more.

Although Raynaud’s is common, it doesn’t usually cause severe problems, and you can treat the symptoms yourself simply by keeping warm, however sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious condition.

What are the symptoms of Raynaud’s Disease?

“When you’re cold, anxious or stressed, your fingers and toes may change colour,”says the NHS website, with other symptoms outlined including pain in your fingers or toes; numbness in the region; and pins and needles.

Certain people also experience the symptoms of Raynaud’s in other parts of their body including their nipples, ears, lips, and nose.

In most cases, you can manage the symptoms of Raynaud’s yourself, with the NHS providing the following advice:

• Keep your home warm
• Wear warm clothes during cold weather, especially on your hands and feet
• Try to avoid sudden changes in temperature
• Exercise regularly – this helps improve circulation
• Try breathing exercises or yoga to help you relax
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Don’t smoke (smoking reduces your circulation)
• Try not to have too much caffeine (found in tea, coffee, cola and chocolate)

When should I see a doctor?

However, in some cases, the symptoms of Raynaud’s disease can become so severe that you need to seek medical care.

Dr Lai Becker recommends checking the condition with a doctor if it gets to a severe point, especially on the pain scale where it is impacting your ability to carry out ordinary tasks.

The NHS recommends you should see a doctor if:

• You have symptoms of Raynaud’s that are very bad or getting worse
• Raynaud’s is affecting your daily life
• Your symptoms are only on one side of your body
• You also have joint pain, skin rashes or muscle weakness
• You’re over 30 years old and get symptoms of Raynaud’s for the first time
• Your child is under 12 years old and has symptoms of Raynaud’s

If they deem it to serious enough, a GP may prescribe a medicine to help improve your circulation, which some people take every day, whilst others only use it, for example, during cold weather.

Your GP may also arrange extra tests if they think Raynaud’s could be a sign of a more serious condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Who is most likely to suffer from Raynaud’s Disease?

Raynaud’s is ‘overwhelmingly more common with women and generally first discovered in adolescence,’ so says Dr. Lai Becker, but it is estimated that up to 20% of the world’s adult population suffer from it – so you’re by no means alone!

Source: totum.com