Symptoms and Treatment for Raynaud's Disease

Raynaud's disease is a unique condition, which produces a numb and cool sensation to spread to areas throughout the body due to stress and temperature changes. Areas, such as the nose, fingers, and toes, become cold and numb due to the narrowing of small arteries located within the skin. This causes a limited supply of blood to circulate to the areas, which results in the cold and numb sensations. While this condition can occur in anyone, women and people living in cold environments have an increased risk for developing this condition.

Symptoms of Raynaud's Disease

There is a false misconception that Raynaud's disease is the same as frostbite. However, this is not the case. While the symptoms of Raynaud's disease and frostbite are similar, they are two separate conditions. The main symptoms of Raynaud's disease include cold toes and fingers, changes in skin color when dealing with stress or while in cold environments, and numb, prickly sensations. Often, people with this condition experience a stringing pain upon the warming of the skin or during stress relaxation.

The first stages of Raynaud's disease cause the skin to turn white, then blue after the cold and numbing sensations begin to occur. As the area experiences an increase in the limited blood circulation, the areas can begin to throb, swell, tingle, and turn red. With each flare of the condition, different areas of the body can become affected. Not all symptoms will be present with each flare.

Treatment for Raynaud's Disease

It is important to seek proper treatment for Raynaud's disease. It is essential because there is a risk for serious and permanent complications. Rarely, Raynaud's disease can become severe, which can result in deformities and deterioration of the affected areas if treatment is not sought. Skin ulcers and gangrene can occur if the blood vessels become permanently blocked.

The main treatment for this disease consists of home treatment. Home treatment includes learning how to prevent or decrease the severity of the flare ups. This is done to prevent tissue damage. If the condition is caused by an underlying condition it is important to treat the underlying condition properly to decrease the symptoms of Raynaud's disease.

Medications are often prescribed as well. Calcium channel blockers are used to relax and open up the blood vessels to increase blood circulation. Alpha blockers can be used to counter act the hormone responsible for causing blood vessels to constrict. Vasodilators are also prescribed to relax the blood vessels for increased circulation.

Other medications are often helpful when treating Raynaud's disease as well. These medications include over the counter cold drugs, beta blockers, and birth control pills. Other treatment options for Raynaud's disease consist of nerve injections, chemical injections, and amputation in severe cases.

References:

"Raynaud's Disease" MayoClinic.com
"Raynaud's Disease" MedlinePlus.org
"Raynaud's Disease" VDF.org