Raynaud’s syndrome is, in simple words, a change in the color of the fingers or toes, which is accompanied by tingling, numbness, a feeling of cold, and sometimes pain. Violation of arterial blood supply (ischemia) and vasoconstriction occurs under the influence of low temperatures or emotional overstrain. Of course, hypersensitivity to cold can be a perfectly healthy person, but the case is limited to a slight reddening of the skin, without any other unpleasant symptoms.
Progressing leads to atrophy of tissues up to the appearance of non-healing ulcers and gangrene. Pathology not only causes the patient physical and psychological discomfort, but in some cases leads to his disability.
Stages and symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome
There are 3 stages (degrees) of Raynaud’s syndrome.
- The first is pallor (whitening) as a result of vasospasm. The skin becomes cold, numb. Pain is usually absent.
- The second – lividity after a sharp dilation of capillaries and stopping blood flow. The appearance and intensification of pain.
- The third – restoration of blood flow, accompanied by redness and a feeling of heat in the upper phalanges. Swelling, reduction of pain syndrome.
However, attacks involving all three stages occur in no more than 20% of patients. In the rest, “attacks” are limited to two or even one stage. As a rule, the fingers of the hands are affected, much less often – hands and feet at the same time. And very rarely – only the feet.
At the initial stages of the disease affects 1-2 fingers of the hand or foot, but then the process spreads to the rest. In this case, the thumb is most often unaffected. Attacks on average last 15-25 minutes and pass on their own or after warming procedures. In winter, clinical symptoms are more intense than in the warm season. But if ischemia progresses due to an infection, the fingers become thick, immobile, and small ulcers form on the skin.
Prolonged ischemia of fingers with subsequent cell damage leads to dystrophic changes, development of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, necrosis and gangrene of tissues.
Risk factors for Raynaud’s syndrome
One of the key triggers for primary Raynaud’s syndrome is considered to be genetic predisposition. There are other triggers that can trigger the development of the disease.
Risk factors for developing Raynaud’s syndrome:
- prolonged hypothermia;
- frequent injuries to fingers and toes;
- smoking;
- severe emotional upheaval;
- contact with heavy metals such as lead, arsenic;
- contact with vinyl chloride (this substance is used to make siding, windows and doors, packaging materials, cables and wires, medical supplies);
- taking certain types of medications.
Prevalence of Raynaud’s syndrome
On average, Raynaud’s syndrome occurs in 3-5% of people worldwide. The peak incidence is in adolescence and young adulthood.
In women, the disease is detected 2-8 times more often than in men, and debuts, as a rule, at a younger age. In the elderly (60 years and older) Raynaud’s syndrome is diagnosed in only 0.1-1% of cases.
Approximately 25% of patients are found to have first-line relatives (parents, children) suffering from the same disease.
Complications of Raynaud’s syndrome
Prolonged disruption of blood supply in the fingers can lead to complications – non-healing ulcers on the skin, its thickening and thickening, and even to the destruction of bone tissue located at the fingertips.
If the disease is not treated, then over time the fingers can form dry gangrene – tissue die-off, not associated with infectious processes.
Due to constant spasms, the walls of the vessels become thicker, the bones of the fingers are destroyed, the mobility of the joints may be impaired.
Which doctor to see for Raynaud’s syndrome
If you have symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome, you should seek help from a general practitioner or rheumatologist.
At the appointment, the doctor will ask at what moments whitening and numbness of the fingers appear, clarify what medications the patient takes, what chronic diseases he has. The specialist may also ask about the specifics of the work – whether the patient often has to work in the cold, contact with toxic chemicals or use construction tools or heavy machinery associated with vibration (woodworking machines, jackhammers, drills, vibratory shears and the like).
The diagnosis of Raynaud’s syndrome is considered reliable if the patient answers three questions positively:
- Do you have hypersensitivity of your fingers to cold?
- Does the color of your fingers change when exposed to cold?
- Do your fingers turn white or bluish?
It should be taken into account that hypersensitivity of the hands to cold occurs even among absolutely healthy people. Therefore, whitening of the fingers is highly specific for Raynaud’s syndrome.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor can conduct a cold test.
The patient measures the skin temperature at the tips of the fingers or toes. Then the hand or foot is immersed in cold water for 5 minutes. In healthy people, the fingers warm up on their own after 10-12 minutes. In patients with Raynaud’s syndrome, however, they are only half warmed.
Prognosis and prevention
The prognosis of the primary form of Raynaud’s syndrome in most cases is favorable. Thanks to modern drugs and methods of prevention, the disease can be cured.
The prognosis of the secondary form of Raynaud’s syndrome depends on the underlying disease. Patients with this diagnosis may require longer treatment and regular visits to the doctor – all these measures will help prevent the development of relapses.
Rules for the prevention of Raynaud’s syndrome:
- avoid hypothermia, emotional stress;
- avoid contact with toxic chemicals;
- avoid working on vibrating equipment and tools;
- stop smoking (nicotine causes vasoconstriction);
- if symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome appear – seek help from a therapist or rheumatologist.
Conclusion
Raynaud’s syndrome is a disease in which there is a disruption of blood supply in the fingers and toes, which causes their whitening, numbness, tingling and in some cases pain. Its development is due to vasoconstriction of blood vessels under the influence of cold or emotional stress. The condition can progress, leading to complications such as ulcers, tissue necrosis and gangrene, which can cause disability. The causes of the condition can be both primary and secondary, and important risk factors include genetic predisposition, prolonged hypothermia, smoking and exposure to toxic substances.
Timely medical attention, diagnosis and adequate treatment play an important role in managing the disease and preventing complications. Prevention includes avoidance of hypothermia, stress, toxic substances, and smoking. Despite the fact that Raynaud’s syndrome can significantly impair quality of life, with the right approach to treatment, the prognosis of most patients is favorable, especially in the primary form of the disease.
