Doctors are advising people to check whether they have a worrying disease by taking a quick test at home. This advice is particularly applicable to those who experience unbearable coldness and numbness in their toes and fingers when exposed to cold temperatures. Known as Raynaud’s disease, symptoms include a change of color in your fingers and toes, especially when you are stressed.
Understanding Raynaud’s Disease
Raynaud’s disease affects the blood circulation to your toes and fingers. Also known as Raynaud’s syndrome, the disease is triggered by stress, anxiety, and cold temperatures. According to statistics gathered by the NHS, approximately 20% of the adult population worldwide could have Raynaud’s disease. This means that around 10 million individuals living in the United Kingdom alone could have the disease.
Raynaud’s Disease Symptoms
The lack of blood flow to the extremities causes your fingers and toes to change color. You will notice that the skin will initially turn white due to the lack of blood flow, and then eventually turn purple due to the lack of oxygen. Individuals who suffer from this condition will also often experience pain and throbbing in their extremities. Depending on the cause of the condition, patients will be classified as either suffering from primary or secondary Raynaud’s.
Primary and Secondary Raynaud’s Disease
Primary Raynaud’s disease develops independently and has no clear connection to other existing health issues. Experts have suggested that it could possibly stem from irregularities in how the nervous system manages your blood vessels. It could also potentially have a genetic component. This type is regarded as the most prevalent type of the disease. Secondary Raynaud’s, on the other hand, is typically linked to an existing medical condition. Triggers of this type of Raynaud’s may include the use of specific medications, infections, autoimmune diseases, or, in some cases, even cancer.
A Potential Early Indicator
Raynaud’s syndrome can potentially be an early sign of scleroderma, an auto-immune disease characterized by the skin hardening and thickening. Although rather uncommon, scleroderma can be fatal if it spreads from the skin to your joints and internal organs. It has been estimated that around 20,000 people living in Britain could have scleroderma.
Testing for Raynaud’s Disease
If you’re worried that you might have Raynaud’s condition, Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK offers a quick test that takes just 60 seconds to complete. In the test, you are asked five questions that help provide doctors with insight into your current condition. The first question in the test asks if your fingers are ever sensitive to the cold. The second question asks whether your fingers ever change color in response to changes in temperature or stressful situations. The third question requires you to state whether you experience pain or numbness in the areas that change color. The next question enquires whether you feel throbbing or stinging when the area warms up again. The final question asks whether you ever develop ulcers or sores on your digits.
Lifestyle and Environmental Triggers
While the precise cause of Raynaud’s disease is still unknown, certain environmental and lifestyle factors are known to contribute to episodes. Exposure to cold weather, rapid temperature drops, or simply holding cold things might cause symptoms. Anxiety and stress have also been cited as major causes of the condition.
Who Is At Risk of Developing Raynaud’s?
Certain demographics are more likely to get Raynaud’s than others. For instance, women are more likely to be affected than men. It is also most typically identified in adults under the age of 30. Those with a family history of Raynaud’s or other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, may be more prone to developing the disease. Doing the one-minute test is a quick yet effective starting point for anyone experiencing symptoms or concerned about their personal risk.
The Bottom Line
While we all get cold from time to time, especially in our extremities, experiencing digits that get numb, painful, and change color may be cause for concern. Answering the questions in the one-minute test is an easy way to identify whether you could potentially have Raynaud’s. Once you know that you have the condition, you can start taking the necessary precautions and medications to help manage the symptoms of the condition. In severe cases, doctors will prescribe medication that improves the blood flow to your body’s extremities.