What is Raynaud’s disease?
Raynaud’s disease is a temporary blood circulation disorder at the level of the extremities, which occurs when one is exposed to the cold but also – and more rarely – when one is stressed.
Naturally, when the human body is exposed to cold, it seeks to maintain its internal temperature. For this, the small arteries located just under the skin are tightened in order to reduce the exposure of blood to the cold – the influx increases in the deep veins – this is called the vasoconstriction. In people with Raynaud’s disease, vasoconstriction is abnormal; we speak of a vasomotor disorder. The nerves, hypersensitive, cause an excessive tightening of the small arteries whose caliber decreases brutally causing the non-supply of the extremities in blood and oxygen; this phenomenon is called spasm. The spasm passed, the arterioles dilate once more and the circulation sanguine resumes normally. It was a French doctor, Maurice Raynaud, who first described the manifestations of this disease in 1862.
It is estimated that 3% to 5% of the population has Raynaud’s disease or syndrome.
Raynaud’s disease and Raynaud’s syndrome, what are the differences?
There are 2 forms of the disease:
The Raynaud’s disease accounts for 90% of cases. Generally, the symptoms are mild and cause an unpleasant sensation, but do not cause damage to vessels or tissues. In regarding 2/3 of cases, the disease resolves on its own following a few years. She most often appears in young adults, between the ages of 15 and 25. We don’t know the cause.
The Raynaud’s syndromealso called Raynaud’s phenomenon, is much rarer and usually more serious. These cases are generally linked to another disease – we speak of a secondary form – or to an identified cause. It usually appears around the age of 40 and may require specialized medical monitoring. Raynaud’s syndrome can be caused by diseases that affect the blood vesselsevents, activities that can cause damage to vessels, taking certain medications over the long term, etc. The most serious complications are finger deformity or toes as well as the appearance ofulcers or the gangrene at fingertips.
Raynaud’s phenomenon: what are the symptoms?
The disease specifically affects the extremities, most commonly the hands and feet, and more specifically the fingers and toes. All fingers are not necessarily affected by seizures and the phenomenon can also be limited to a single finger, or even a single phalanx. In some cases other extremities may be involved such as the nose, lips, earlobes, tongue or even nipples. A seizure can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
The symptoms are as follows:
- Skin color change from natural pink to white. Sometimes the affected part turns blue which means that it is no longer supplied with oxygen;
- Cooling;
- When the affected parts warm up (or when the stress subsides), sensation of tingling, pulsation or even pain;
- Mild swelling and redness.
Symptoms are more severe, more intense, longer in patients with Raynaud’s syndrome.
Raynaud’s disease and syndrome, who is concerned?
- For Raynaud’s disease
The people most at risk are women of childbearing age (75% to 90% of cases of Raynaud’s disease are women aged 15 to 40) as well as those whose direct relative is affected by the disease. Raynaud’s disease is present in 6% of women between the ages of 25 and 401.
- For Raynaud’s Syndrome
The people most at risk are those who suffer from certain autoimmune diseases (scleroderma, Sharp’s disease, Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome, lupus), those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, atherosclerosis, thyroid disorders or Buerger’s disease. People who expose their hands to repeated trauma (alternation of hot and cold, keyboard work, tilers, etc.) also have a greater risk of developing Raynaud’s syndrome.
Can Raynaud’s disease be cured?
Certain factors favor the development of this disease:
- The fact of having suffered injuries or frostbite to the feet and hands.
- The tobacco
- Caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, cola drink).
- The stress
In the event of a crisis, the first solution is to get warm and warm your extremities in order to calm the spasm. If the crisis is caused by stress you have to try to calm yourself down by fleeing the stressful situation.
While people with Raynaud’s disease do not need medication, people with severe Raynaud’s syndrome should seek treatment. This generally combines vasodilator drugs, calcium channel blockers, alpha-blockers… In the most serious cases, when the blood circulation is blocked, hospitalization may be necessary.
Sources: Raynaud’s phenomenon: definition, symptoms and causes, ameli.fr. ; Garner R, Kumari R, Lanyon P, Doherty M, Zhang W, “Prevalence, risk factors and associations of primary Raynaud’s phenomenon: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies”BMJ Open.
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