Raynaud's Phenomenon Quiz

Fingers and toes turn white because of a lack of blood. The small blood vessels that feed the skin contract, limiting blood flow. Deprived of blood, the skin first turns white then blue. The skin turns red as the arteries relax and blood flows again. Extremities—hands and feet—are most commonly affected, but Raynaud's can attack other areas such as the nose and ears.

The main symptoms of Raynaud's are a change in skin color (white to blue to red) and a change in skin temperature (affected areas feel cooler). It's common for the affected areas to feel numb or prickly, cold, or painful.

Although the most common cause of Raynaud's phenomenon is an overreaction to cold temperatures, other causes can trigger it. In general, when the body is exposed to cold, the hands and feet lose heat rapidly. As a normal response to conserve heat and keep the inner vital organs warm, the body reduces the amount of blood flowing to the hand and feet by narrowing the small arteries that supply them with blood. In people with Raynaud's, these small blood vessels may over-respond to cold.

Cold temperatures are more likely to provoke an attack when the individual is physically or emotionally stressed. For some people, exposure to cold is not even necessary; stress alone causes vessels to narrow.

Women ages 15 to 40 are most likely to have Raynaud's, although anyone can develop the condition.

The secondary form is the more serious condition, because it is part of a more serious disease, such as scleroderma. In the primary form, known as Raynaud’s disease, the cause cannot be determined.

Other illnesses that cause secondary Raynaud's include scleroderma, nerve problems, and pulmonary hypertension. Smoking is another cause, as are some heart, blood, and migraine medications. Injuries may also cause Raynaud's phenomenon. They can result from frostbite, surgery, or other causes. For example, regular use of machinery such as chain saws and vibrating drills can hurt blood vessels. Other activities that may aggravate the phenomenon are regular typing and piano playing.

They can go outdoors if they wear the proper clothing. They should wear scarves, warm socks, boots, and mittens or gloves under mittens because gloves alone allow heat to escape. People with Raynaud's should also wear wristlets to close the space between the sleeve and mitten.

Reaching into a refrigerator may trigger an attack. People with Raynaud's can also use oven mitts or potholders for cold items.

After several sessions of training, patients can often prevent or stop attacks using biofeedback, a technique in which patients are taught to "think" their fingers or toes warm.