Raynaud

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Raynauds Phenomenon

• By Alison Cunliffe

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What is Raynauds Disease

• Condition resulting in a series of discolorations
  of the fingers and/or toes after exposure to
  changes in temperature (hot or cold) or emotional
  events.
• Skin discoloration occurs because an abnormal
  spasm of the blood vessels causes a diminished
  blood supply to the local tissues.
• First the digits turn white because of the
  diminished blood supply
• Second they turn blue because of the lack of
  oxygen
• Last the blood vessels reopen causing the blood
  to flush back in which causes digits to turn red.

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Causes

• Cause is unknown.
• Both abnormal nerve control of blood vessels and
  nerve sensitivity to cold exposure have been
  suspected as being contributing factors.

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Symptoms

• All vary on the severity, frequency, and duration
  of the spasm
• Most include
• Skin discoloration
• Mild tingling and numbness (disappears when color
  returns)
• When spasms become more sustained sensory nerves
  become irritated by the lack of oxygen and can
  cause pain.
• Rarely symptoms from poor oxygen supply to the
  tissue can cause tips of digits to ulcerate.

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Tests

• Sometimes there are certain patterns in the tiny
  blood vessels adjacent to the fingernails in
  patients with RP that can be seen with a
  magnifying viewing instrument.
• There is no blood test to help doctor to
  determine if you have RP
• Doctors can also perform certain maneuvers with
  the patients extremities to exclude pinched
  blood vessels that can produce symptoms that
  mimic RP such as in thoracic outlet syndrome.

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Treatment

• No prevention
• Things you can do to help RP
• Protect fingers and toes from cold, trauma, and
  infection
• Medication that can aggravate blood vessel spasm
  should be avoided by patients with RP
• Persistent symptoms- medications that dilate the
  blood vessels can be administered
• Keep body warm!

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Prognosis

• With a relatively small chance (1) of serious
  complications, approximately half of all affected
  individuals do well by taking simple precautions,
  and never require medication.

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