What is Raynaud's syndrome? What is its relationship to cold weather?

Written By ندى ماهر عبدربه on 2024/01/24

This article was written originally in Arabic and is translated using a 3rd party automated service. ArabiaWeather is not responsible for any grammatical errors whatsoever.

Arabia Weather - Winter is usually considered a special time full of holidays and celebrations, as many people enjoy participating in family traditions and enjoying outdoor activities. However, the situation is different if you suffer from Raynaud's disease, as cold weather becomes a trigger for the symptoms of this disease to appear, Which may make this period more challenging and stressful for you.

What is Raynaud's syndrome? What is its relationship to cold weather?

Raynaud's syndrome

Raynaud's syndrome , also known as Raynaud's disease, is a group of symptoms that arise as a result of narrowing of the peripheral blood vessels that supply distant areas of the body, such as the fingers and nose, resulting in a feeling of tingling, numbness or coldness in those areas as a result of a lack of blood perfusion.

There are two main types of Raynaud's syndrome, depending on what causes it:

The first type

The first type is considered the most common, and is characterized by the absence of a clear cause for its infection, and it is believed that there are genetic factors that may be behind it. This type often begins in adolescence, especially among females, and smoking and caffeine consumption exacerbate the symptoms. However, the symptoms can disappear spontaneously in most cases, making seeking treatment unnecessary.

The second type

This type occurs as a result of a medical condition that causes narrowing of the blood vessels and reduced blood flow to distant parts of the body.

Symptoms of Raynaud's disease

Raynaud's disease attacks begin with a change in the color of the affected parts, turning mostly white and then blue.
This change is accompanied by a feeling of coldness and numbness , and is a normal reaction to cold or psychological influences.
The affected parts can turn red when heated and blood circulation improves, accompanied by a feeling of warmth and a slight throbbing or tingling sensation.
It may take about 15 minutes for blood to flow naturally to the affected area.
It is best to consult a doctor quickly if symptoms of Raynaud's disease appear, especially in severe cases or if there are ulcers or infections in the fingers or feet.
In severe cases of secondary Raynaud's syndrome , constriction of blood vessels may lead to tissue damage, difficult-to-treat skin ulcers, or even tissue death in some cases.
Raynaud's disease is caused by an overreaction of blood vessels in the hands and feet to low temperatures or exposure to stress, but the main cause of these attacks is still not understood.

What is the relationship between Raynaud's disease and cold weather?

An individual's exposure to cold in Raynaud's phenomenon results in the narrowing of the blood vessels leading to the fingers, causing them to change their color to pale white initially. This constriction deprives the fingers of blood supply, accompanied by a feeling of numbness and cold, and the color of the fingers changes to become blue as a result of the consumption of oxygen and the accumulation of carbon dioxide. Finally, the attack ends with the return of blood flow and the fingers become red, with swelling and tingling in the fingers.

The reactions of people with Raynaud's phenomenon vary depending on the circumstances, as some suffer when their fingers are exposed to excessive cold, while others develop symptoms when the entire body is exposed to cold.

A person can test himself using a cold drink or ice water. If the fingers become discolored and do not return to their normal color within 20 minutes, a doctor should be consulted. Symptoms can be reduced by following preventive measures, such as wearing gloves and avoiding sharp changes in temperature. It is preferable to gently warm the fingers and avoid exposure to excessive heat. These procedures may be useful for controlling Raynaud's phenomenon and reducing relapses.