Raynauds Awareness Month February

Raynauds Awareness Month takes place every February

.

Organized by the Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Association, the month aims to awareness of these disorders and offer help and advice not only to sufferers, but to their friends and families too.

You may not have heard of Raynaud’s, but it’s thought that 10% of women suffer from the disorders which occur when blood vessels, mostly in the hands, become over-sensitive to changes in temperature. As a result, sufferers’ hands often turn blue or white.

In medicine, Raynaud’s phenomenon /reɪˈnoʊz/ or Raynaud phenomenon is excessively reduced blood flow in response to cold or emotional stress, causing discoloration of the fingers, toes, and occasionally other areas. This condition may also cause nails to become brittle with longitudinal ridges. Named after French physician Maurice Raynaud (1834–1881), the phenomenon is believed to be the result of vasospasms that decrease blood supply to the respective regions.

Raynaud’s phenomenon by itself is just a sign (hypoperfusion) accompanied by a symptom (discomfort). When linked to pathogenesis, it can be part of Raynaud’s disease (also known as primary Raynaud’s phenomenon), where the cause is unknown, or part of Raynaud’s syndrome (secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon), which is a syndrome caused by a known primary disease, most commonly connective tissue disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus.

Measurement of hand-temperature gradients is one tool used to distinguish between the primary and secondary forms.

It is a hyper-activation of the sympathetic nervous system causing extreme vasoconstriction of the peripheral blood vessels, leading to tissue hypoxia. Chronic, recurrent cases of Raynaud phenomenon can result in atrophy of the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscle. In rare cases it can cause ulceration and ischemic gangrene.

SYMPTOMS

The condition can cause pain within the affected extremities, discoloration (paleness), and sensations of cold and/or numbness. This can often be distressing to those who are not diagnosed, and sometimes it can be obstructive. If someone with Raynaud’s is placed in too cold a climate, it could potentially become dangerous.
When exposed to cold temperatures, the blood supply to the fingers or toes, and in some cases the nose or earlobes, is markedly reduced; the skin turns pale or white (called pallor), and becomes cold and numb.
When the oxygen supply is depleted, the skin color turns blue (called cyanosis).

These events are episodic, and when the episode subsides or the area is warmed, the blood flow returns and the skin color first turns red (rubor), and then back to normal, often accompanied by swelling, tingling, and a painful “pins and needles” sensation.

All three color changes are observed in classic Raynaud’s. However, not all patients see all of the aforementioned color changes in all episodes, especially in milder cases of the condition. Symptoms are thought to be due to reactive hyperemias of the areas deprived of blood flow.

In pregnancy, this sign normally disappears owing to increased surface blood flow. Raynaud’s also has occurred in breastfeeding mothers, causing nipples to turn white and become extremely painful. Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker and vasodilator, was recommended to increase blood flow to the extremities and noticeably relieved pain to the breast in an extremely small study group.

Raynaud’s disease, or “Primary Raynaud’s“, is diagnosed if the symptoms are idiopathic, that is, if they occur by themselves and not in association with other diseases. Some refer to Primary Raynaud’s disease as “being allergic to coldness.” It often develops in young women in their teens and early adulthood. Primary Raynaud’s is thought to be at least partly hereditary, although specific genes have not yet been identified.

Smoking increases frequency and intensity of attacks, and there is a hormonal component. Caffeine also worsens the attacks. Sufferers are more likely to have migraine and angina than controls.

Scleroderma is slightly less common. It affects the immune system and blood vessels, making skin on the hands and feet stiff and tight.

Both disorders are really uncomfortable for the people affected by it.

To celebrate the charity’s 30th Anniversary in 2012, the Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Association aimed to raise one million pounds for research and to fund a number of projects into Raynaud’s and Scleroderma.

There are loads of events you can get involved with throughout the month to raise money for this great cause – why not get sponsored to do the Great North Run, or hold a quiz night?

All the money raised goes to help the Raynaud’s and Scleroderma research projects or help children who suffer from Scleroderma. To get the ball rolling visit the Raynauds Awareness Month website and get ready to do your bit for this worthwhile cause!