RAYNAUD'S DISEASE

This is a disorder of the blood vessels where exposure to cold weather causes the arteries that supply the fingers and toes to contract, cutting off the blood supply to the fingers and toes. It is usual for the fingers to suffer more often than the toes and usually on both hands. Unlike Buerger's disease this disorder is more often than not a complaint of young women

The symptoms seem to be the same as in Buerger's disease, the cold causes the veins to contract and stem the blood flow so the fingers turn white. Sluggish blood flow returns and starts to squeeze through the narrow veins into the hands turning the hands blue. Then when circulation restores the rush of blood causes the hands to turn red. This if untreated can also turn nasty and cause gangrene at the tips of the affected digits.

A sufferer should keep the hands and feet as warm as possible. If the sufferer is a smoker, then stop smoking immediately, because smoking constricts arteries. In severe cases a Sympathectomy (an operation where the nerves that control the diameter of the arteries are cut) is performed...(more)

Beneficial Treatments...(more)