How is Raynaud's diagnosed?

Raynaud's phenomenon can usually be diagnosed after an examination of your symptoms and some blood tests. Your GP may place your hands in cold water or cool air to see if you show symptoms of Raynaud's. Further testing is usually recommended to find out whether you have primary or secondary Raynaud's.

How do they test you for Raynaud's?

To tell the difference between primary and secondary Raynaud's, your doctor might do a test called nailfold capillaroscopy. During the test, the doctor looks at the skin at the base of your fingernail under a microscope or magnifier to look for deformities or swelling of the tiny blood vessels.

What triggers Raynaud's disease?

Exposure to cold, such as putting your hands in cold water, taking something from a freezer or being in cold air, is the most likely trigger. For some people, emotional stress can trigger an episode.

What age is Raynaud's diagnosed?

The primary form of Raynaud's is the most common type. It often begins between ages 15 and 25. It's less severe than secondary Raynaud's. People with primary Raynaud's do not often develop a related condition.

What is the difference between Raynaud's syndrome and Raynaud's disease?

Primary Raynaud's(or Raynaud's disease) happens without any other illness behind it. The symptoms are often mild. Secondary Raynaud's (Raynaud's syndrome, Raynaud's phenomenon) results from another illness. It's often a condition that attacks your body's connective tissues, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the tests to diagnose Raynaud's?

Is raynauds a symptom of MS?

If you have MS, you may also be at risk for Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition in which your fingers and toes lose heat. They turn from white to blue to red as the blood begins flowing again. You may feel numbness, pain, or like someone is sticking you with pins and needles.

What foods to avoid if you have Raynaud's?

Always try to maintain a balanced, healthy diet and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Some food supplements have helped Raynaud's sufferers, including evening primrose oil, gingko biloba and fish oils. Certain foods are also believed to help, like ginger, garlic and spicy food.

Is Raynaud's an autoimmune disease?

Summary. Raynaud's phenomenon is the short-term interruption of blood flow to the extremities, such as the fingers and toes. Raynaud's phenomenon may be a sign of an underlying autoimmune disorder such as scleroderma or lupus, so it's important to see your doctor for diagnosis.

Is Raynaud's a neurological disorder?

(People exposed to cold weather are well aware of these mechanisms.) Cold, of course, is the main trigger in Raynaud's phenomenon, although roughly one-third of patients experience it in response to stress and anxiety -- another indication that the condition is neurological and even psychological in origin.

What is the best treatment for Raynaud's?

Calcium channel blockers are the class of drugs most widely used for treatment of Raynaud syndrome—especially the dihydropyridines (eg, nifedipine, nicardipine), which are the most potent vasodilators. Nifedipine is the customary first choice.

How Serious Is Raynaud's disease?

In rare cases, Raynaud's can become severe. If it causes skin sores or gangrene—decay or death of body tissues—you may need antibiotics or surgery to remove the damaged tissue. In very serious cases, it might be necessary to remove the affected toe or finger. But don't panic—this is extremely rare.

How do you check the circulation in your fingers?

How to check: Compare the temperature of both sides. If fingers or toes are cold, put a blanket on to cover the fingers or toes and check again in one hour. Normal: Pink within 3 seconds or less. Less than 3 seconds is rapid.

What is the life expectancy of someone with Raynaud's disease?

Under the broad definition, the median survival time was 11.0 years (95% CI: 10.0–12.1 years) for white subjects without RP, compared to 8.1 years (95% CI: 6.0–11.8 years) for white subjects with RP.

What autoimmune diseases are associated with Raynaud's?

Autoimmune disorders with which Raynaud phenomenon can be associated include systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren syndrome. Primary Raynaud phenomenon is much more common and usually less severe than secondary Raynaud phenomenon.

Do Rheumatologists treat Raynaud's syndrome?

Rheumatologists are the doctors best equipped to diagnose Raynaud's. When a patient comes in with symptoms, an evaluation will include a complete medical history, physical exam, and blood tests to determine if the Raynaud's is primary or secondary.

What medications make Raynaud's worse?

What medications make Raynauds worse? Patients with Raynaud's should avoid medications that constrict blood vessels, including migraine medications (ergotamine and triptans), over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, diet aids, beta-blockers, and birth control pills.

Can anxiety trigger Raynaud's?

Raynaud's is usually triggered by cold temperatures, anxiety or stress. The condition occurs because your blood vessels go into a temporary spasm, which blocks the flow of blood.

Can a dermatologist diagnose Raynaud's?

Raynaud's syndrome is treated by a number of health care professionals. Often, the diagnosis is made by the primary care physician or a rheumatologist. Sometimes, the diagnosis may also be made by a dermatologist (skin doctor) or a vascular surgeon.

Does Raynaud's affect brain?

When it's cold outside, some lupus patients develop Raynaud's, which is where the vessels over constrict and turn blue. If it's warm, they can over dilate and turn red. The same phenomenon can occur in the brain. Over dilation can cause a headache and over constriction can produce a mental fog.

Who would diagnose Raynaud's disease?

Primary care doctors and internists often diagnose and treat Raynaud's. If you have the disorder, you also may see a rheumatologist. This is a doctor who specializes in treating disorders of the joints, bones, and muscles.

Does Raynaud's cause weight loss?

Low body weight and involuntary weight loss are associated with Raynaud's phenomenon in both men and women. Scand J Rheumatol.

Does Raynaud disease affect the heart?

There's no known link between Raynaud's and heart disease.

What vitamins should I take for Raynaud's?

Inositol hexaniacinate , a form of vitamin B3 or niacin, may reduce frequency of Raynaud's attacks.

Does drinking water help Raynaud's?

They make blood vessels constrict. Beta-blocker medicines, often used to treat high blood pressure, also can make Raynaud's worse. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, which can lower the amount of blood moving through the blood vessels.

Does Raynaud's syndrome get worse with age?

It is a progressive condition, meaning it tends to worsen as a person gets older. Initially it may only affect the tips of the fingers or toes, but over time may affect whole fingers and toes.