Rayna Health Dictionary

A disorder of the blood vessels in which exposure to cold causes the small arteries supplying the fingers and toes to contract suddenly. This cuts off blood flow to the digits, which become pale. The fingers are more often affected than the toes. The cause is unknown, but young women are most commonly affected.

On exposure to cold, the digits turn white due to lack of blood. As sluggish blood flow returns, the digits become blue; when they are warmed and normal blood flow returns, they turn red. During an attack, there is often tingling, numbness, or a burning feeling in the affected fingers or toes. In rare cases, the artery walls gradually thicken, permanently reducing blood flow. Eventually painful ulceration or even gangrene may develop at the tips of the affected digits.

Diagnosis is made from the patient’s history. Treatment involves keeping the hands and feet as warm as possible. Vasodilator drugs or calcium channel blockers may be helpful in severe cases. (See also Raynaud’s phenomenon.)... raynaud’s disease

So called after Maurice Raynaud (1834–81), the Paris physician who published a thesis on the subject in 1862. This is a condition in which the circulation (see CIRCULATORY SYSTEM OF THE BLOOD) becomes suddenly obstructed in outlying parts of the body. It is supposed to be due to spasm of the smaller arteries in the affected part, as the result of them responding abnormally to impuilses from the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. Its effects are increased both by cold and by various diseases involving the blood vessels.

Symptoms The condition is most commonly con?ned to the occurrence of ‘dead ?ngers’ – the ?ngers (or the toes, ears, or nose) becoming white, numb, and waxy-looking. This condition may last for some minutes, or may not pass o? for several hours, or even for a day or two.

Treatment People who are subject to these attacks should be careful in winter to protect the feet and hands from cold, and should always use warm water when washing the hands. In addition, the whole body should be kept warm, as spasm of the arterioles in the feet and hands may be induced by chilling of the body. Su?erers should not smoke. VASODILATORS are helpful, especially the calcium antagonists. In all patients who do not respond to such medical treatment, surgery should be considered in the form of sympathectomy: i.e. cutting of the sympathetic nerves to the affected part. This results in dilatation of the arterioles and hence an improved blood supply. This operation is more successful in the case of the feet than in the case of the hands.... raynaud’s disease

The first is less severe, characterized by blanching spasms of blood vessels leading to the hands and feet, initiated by cold, moisture, even emotional stress and low blood sugar. Sort of a finger migraine. After the spasm relaxes, the tissue distal becomes red, hot, even painful. R. Disease is more serious and perhaps deriving from different causes as well. The spasms may not subside, the effected tissues can become purplish, and in extreme cases, gangrenous.... raynauds either syndrome or disease

A circulatory disorder affecting the fingers and toes that shares the mechanism, symptoms, and signs of Raynaud’s disease but results from a known underlying disorder.

Possible causes include arterial diseases, such as atherosclerosis; connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis; and various drugs, such as beta-blocker drugs.

The disorder is an occupational disorder of people who use pneumatic drills, chain saws, or vibrating machinery; it is sometimes seen in typists, pianists, and others whose fingers suffer repeated trauma.

Treatment is the same as for Raynaud’s disease, along with treatment of the underlying disorder.... raynaud’s phenomenon