How to Treat Raynaud's Syndrome

Raynaud’s syndrome occurs when your blood vessels in your fingers or toes overreact to temperature change that feels similar to extreme pins and needles. The phenomenon occurs due to an underlying illness or condition that attacks your body’s connective tissues. You can treat some forms of Raynaud’s easily at home by keeping yourself warm, reducing your daily stress, and making lifestyle adjustments to improve circulation. If your Raynaud’s is caused by an underlying medical condition, however, you will need to treat that to fully alleviate your symptoms.

Method 1 - Managing Raynaud's Symptoms

1

→ Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Raynaud’s can only be properly diagnosed by a doctor. If you suspect you may have Raynaud’s, make an appointment with your doctor. They will conduct a physical exam, and ask you about symptoms such as:

→ Cold fingers and toes

→ Skin becoming white or blue due to cold or stress

→ Numbing in your extremities

→ Prickling, stinging, or pain upon warming or immediately after a stressful situation

2

→ Warm your hands and feet when you experience symptoms. Warming your hands and feet and keeping them warm is the best way to manage Raynaud’s. If you notice mild to moderate symptoms, try warming your extremities with a warm bath or shower. Then, bundle up in warm clothes including socks and gloves.

→ In cold weather, keep yourself warm by wearing several layers of clothing. Wear clothes made of silk, wool, or polypropylene as these may help conserve heat.

3

→ Keep your environment warm. Since cold is a common trigger for Raynaud’s, keeping your environment warm is critical to reducing symptoms. Try to minimize your use of air conditioning and turn up the thermostat in the colder months. Warm your car before you get in during the winter, and minimize your time in cold weather.

→ Keep a pair of gloves or mittens near your freezer to wear when removing frozen foods if you tend to experience severe symptoms.

4

→ Remove yourself from stressful situations. In addition to cold, stress is a common trigger for Raynaud’s. If you start experiencing stress-based triggers, remove yourself from the stressful situation if at all possible.

→ If you can’t leave the situation completely, ask for a 5-10 minute break. Use that time to take a short walk and clear your head and allow your symptoms to subside.

5

→ Use stress management techniques to reduce symptoms. For those whose Raynaud’s is triggered by stress, having a few simple but reliable stress management techniques is crucial. These can help manage symptoms when you come across a stressful situation that you can’t just walk away from. Two reliable techniques that can be done anywhere are:

→ Deep breathing. Take a deep breath in, counting to 3 as you inhale. Hold your breath for a count of 2 seconds, then exhale fully for another 3 seconds. Repeat as much as is necessary.

→ Progressive muscle relaxations. Slowly tense then relax each of your muscles. Start in your feet, then work your way up to your legs, abdomen, chest, arms, hands, shoulder, neck, and finally your face.

Method 2 - Making Lifestyle Adjustments

1

→ Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. Exercise helps improve circulation, which in turn can help reduce Raynaud’s symptoms. Try to get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least 5 days a week.

→ If possible, your exercise should be moderately vigorous. This means that you should be able to carry on a conversation while you exercise, but just barely.

→ If you can’t get moderately vigorous exercise, still try to get in a walk or another mild to moderate activity. Mild exercise is better than no exercise.

2

→ Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Aim for a diet that is comprised of 45-65% carbohydrates, 10-35% protein, and 20-35% fat. Focus on eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Try to reduce your intake of processed sugars and carbohydrates, dairy, red meats, and trans fats.

→ Good sources of lean protein include seafood, white-meat poultry, eggs, beans, and soy.

→ Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine as much as possible.

3

→ Quit smoking. Smoking can impede circulation. If you currently smoke, quitting may help reduce both the frequency and intensity of your Raynaud’s. Look for quitting smoking assistance programs and support groups in your area to help get you started.

→ If you are in the U.S., you can call the national Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to be connected with tools and resources in your area.

4

→ Ask for alternative arrangements if you use vibrating tools at work. Tools like pneumatic chisels, jackhammers, hand mixers, or anything else that vibrates can exacerbate Raynaud’s symptoms. If you currently use these regularly as a part of your job, ask your employer about alternative tools or arrangements to help minimize your exposure to the vibrations.

Method 3 - Seeking Medical Help

1

→ Talk to your doctor about adjusting your medications. Certain medications may cause or worsen Raynaud’s symptoms. Ask your doctor about adjusting your dosage or trying a different medication if you notice that taking your prescription makes your Raynaud’s worse. Medications associated with Raynaud’s symptoms include:

→ Headache medicines that contain ergotamine

→ Cancer medications like cisplatin and vinblastine

→ Beta-blockers

→ Birth control pills

→ Over-the-counter cold and allergy medications that contain pseudoephedrine

2

→ Determine if you experience primary or secondary Raynaud's. To determine if you have primary or secondary Raynaud’s, your doctor may perform a nail fold capillaroscopy. During this test, your doctor will look at the skin along your nail base under a microscope to check for enlargement or deformities of the capillaries. If you have secondary Raynaud’s, your doctor will need to treat the underlying condition to fully alleviate the symptoms.

→ Primary Raynaud’s is the most common form of Raynaud’s. This form is a complication unto itself rather than a condition caused by an associated medical condition. Primary Raynaud’s may resolve on its own.

→ Secondary Raynaud’s is when Raynaud’s occurs as a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Secondary Raynaud’s often appears in those over 40, and tends to have more severe symptoms than Primary Raynaud’s.

3

→ Complete blood testing for conditions associated with Secondary Raynaud’s. If your doctor suspects secondary Raynaud’s, they may order additional testing. Generally, this will be a series of blood tests including an antinuclear antibodies test and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate test. Common causes of secondary Raynaud’s include:

→ Connective tissue diseases such as lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis

→ Arterial diseases such as primary pulmonary hypertension and atherosclerosis

→ Carpal tunnel syndrome

→ Injuries to the hands or feet

→ Experiencing repetitive actions or vibrations

Warnings

→ See a doctor immediately if your symptoms are severe enough to impact regular function, or if they are rapidly getting worse.

→ 1 in 10 people develop primary Raynaud’s while 1 in 100 could get secondary Raynaud’s at some point in their lives.