Symptoms Of Raynaud's Disease

Raynaud's disease is also referred to as Raynaud's phenomenon or syndrome. It causes some areas of the body, especially extremities like fingers and toes, to feel cold and numb in colder temperatures and when stress is present. The disease causes the small arteries that carry blood to constrict, which limits blood flow to the affected body parts. The constriction of an artery is called vasospasm. Raynaud's disease is more common in women and individuals living in colder climates. The treatment will depend on the severity of the disease and other health issues that may be present. While Raynaud's disease does reduce the quality of life, it usually does not disable individuals who have it. Get to know the most common symptoms of Raynaud's disease now.

Cold Toes And Fingers

When a person gets cold toes and fingers in response to cold temperatures or stress, they may have Raynaud's disease. The cold fingers and toes are the result of the body trying to keep the vital organs, such as the brain and the heart, warm. To do this, the brain will send signals to the arteries carrying blood to nonvital regions that cause the arteries to constrict. The constriction stops warm blood from going to the nonvital regions and keeps the blood around the vital organs. Fingers and toes get a lower blood supply because they are not necessary to sustain life. The lower blood supply causes the fingers and toes to turn cold because the warmth from the blood is being directed to other parts of the body.

Learn more about the symptoms of Raynaud's disease now.

Skin Color Changes Due To Cold & Stress

With Raynaud's disease, the skin color changes to cold and stress due to reasons similar to why certain body parts become cold. The arteries in nonvital areas constrict to keep blood and oxygen supplied to areas needed to sustain life. The coldness and lack of blood also tend to cause the skin to change colors. In some cases, the skin will turn pale or white, and in other cases, the skin will turn blue or purple. The color change is, in part, due to a lack of warmth to the affected areas. The lack of oxygen to those areas also contributes to the color change. Usually, the natural color of the skin returns shortly after the cold or the stress is removed. If it takes a long time or persists, Raynaud's disease may have an underlying cause.

Discover more symptoms of Raynaud's disease now.

Numbness And Pain Upon Warming

Raynaud's disease does not come without some pain. In many cases, an individual will experience numbing and pain upon warming their skin. The numbness is the tingling feeling a body part is asleep and beginning to wake up. It is initially caused by a lack of oxygen-rich blood reaching an area, and the tingling ensues once blood flow returns to normal. Pain and throbbing sensations happen as blood surges back into the affected areas of the body. The quick return of feeling triggers pain receptors that cause the perception of pain. The areas may also feel extremely warm as they quickly regain heat. The pain is not normally severe, and if it is, it may be a sign there is some underlying cause of the Raynaud's disease.

Discover even more symptoms now.

White Or Blue Skin

The color changes that happen with Raynaud's disease often cause white or blue skin. White or blue skin happens through the same mechanisms previously described. The arterial blood flow is cut off, and the lack of oxygenated blood and warmth causes the color to change. Normally, the skin will turn white first because of the loss of blood flow. This is referred to as pallor. The skin will begin to take on the blue hue, called cyanosis, as the blood left in the areas loses the rest of its oxygen. The color should turn very red and then normalize when the blood flow returns to the affected areas. When the color takes a long time to reverse to normal, there may be an underlying cause of the Raynaud's disease.

Learn more of the warning signs of Raynaud's disease now.

Red Flush And Swelling

Red flush and swelling are caused by the rapid return of blood to the affected areas. As the arteries expand again, the blood stuck behind the closure rushes through to equalize the pressure gradient created by the constriction. This will cause the skin in the area to flush red for some time once blood flow can return to the affected areas. The sudden inflow of blood also causes the swelling. The arteries expand to a size slightly more than usual, making a noticeable increase in the size of the affected region. The throbbing and pain may also be felt here. Again, the swelling should decrease shortly after the blood flow returns to normal levels.