Dear Dr. Gott: Do you have any information on Ray- naud's disease? Is there anything that can help? This is in my fingers and toes.
Dear Reader: Raynaud's phenomenon is a disorder of the small blood vessels within the body that supply the skin with oxygenated blood. It commonly affects women between the ages of 15 and 50. When the condition is present, the arteries involved contract briefly. This, in turn, limits blood flow. When the skin is deprived of blood, it turns white, then blue, and skin temperature is affected. As a general rule, there is no pain, but numbing or prickly sensations can occur. As the arteries relax, blood flow returns and the skin turns pink again. The condition is temporary. Raynaud's can attack the nose, ears, hands and feet. There are two forms of Raynaud's: primary and secondary. When caused by another disease or risk factor because of lifestyle such as smoking, it is referred to as secondary.
With exposure to cold temperatures, the hands and feet can lose heat rapidly. As a means of heat conservation, the body reduces blood flow to the extremities by narrowing the arteries that supply them with blood, shunting it back to more strategic areas. Thus, people diagnosed with Raynaud's are overly susceptible to cold temperatures because of the body's natural pattern for maintaining heat.
Triggers are stress, some migraine medications, scleroderma, systemic lupus, pulmonary hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis or injury.
Attacks can be prevented by maintaining body heat, discontinuing smoking, biofeedback and through prevention of cuts, bruises and other injuries. Those exposed to cold outdoor temperatures should wear warm socks and gloves or mittens, a hat and scarf or other face covering to protect the nose. Even when indoors, floors and temperatures can be cooler.
Wear slippers or socks, and keep your hands warm through movement. Exercise, stretching, card shuffling, working on a jigsaw puzzle and food preparation are but a few possible ways of maintaining good blood flow. In severe cases, a person might even choose to wear gloves when removing food from the refrigerator to stave off an attack.
Since each person has specific triggers because of lifestyle, it is important to identify what brings on an attack and to learn ways to keep appendages warm. Your physician should be consulted for his or her input on other methods of prevention.
Write to Dr. Gott, c/o NEA-United Media, 200 Madison Ave., Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10016.