(NAPSI)-“Zombie Hands.” That’s what can happen to an
estimated 5 to 10 percent of the population when temperatures start to fall.
In a typical case of Raynaud’s phenomenon,
also known as Raynaud’s disease or syndrome,
sufferers experience numbness and pain in their fingers, toes and other
extremities. Fingers turn white, blue or red as the small blood vessels go
into spasm within minutes of exposure to cold or stress, and they appear to
be “dead” as blood flow is constricted.
Named for the French physician Maurice Raynaud,
who first recognized the condition in 1862, it causes an interruption of
blood flow to the fingers, toes, nose or ears. There may be associated
tingling, swelling or painful throbbing. The attacks may last from minutes to
hours. In severe cases, the area may develop ulcerations and infections,
which can lead to gangrene.
Raynaud’s can occur as a “primary”
disease—that is, with no associated disorder—or as a “secondary”
condition related to other diseases, such as scleroderma, lupus, and
rheumatoid arthritis.
“Ninety percent of Raynaud’s
sufferers don’t seek treatment and too many physicians pay short shrift
to those who do,” says Lynn Wunderman,
founder and chair of the Raynaud’s Association.
“Treatment is important because some sufferers may have an underlying
condition such as systemic scleroderma or lupus. Awareness of such a problem
may allow for earlier medical intervention.” Simple blood tests can
rule out the presence of antibodies associated with diseases that have Raynaud’s as a component.
What’s Being Done
To help, the Raynaud’s Association, a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit health organization, launched a new and assertive campaign,”Don’t Turn a Cold Shoulder to Painful
Fingers,” to urge those with the disorder—and their doctors—not
to dismiss the pain that Raynaud’s sufferers
endure, or the lifestyle adjustments they make to minimize exposure to cold
or stress.
Although there is no known cure as yet, treatment options such as calcium
channel blocker drugs have been clinically proven to alleviate symptoms by
opening up the blood vessels so blood circulates more freely.
How To Lend A Warm Helping Hand
You can support the Raynaud’s Association
with a tax-deductible donation. Contributions help fund member mailings, the
website, awareness-building efforts, and thousands of educational materials
distributed each year to sufferers.
Learn More
For further facts, visit www.raynauds.org.
““Ninety
percent of Raynaud’s sufferers don’t
seek treatment and too many physicians pay short shrift to those who
do,” says Lynn Wunderman, founder and chair
of the Raynaud’s Association. http://bit.ly/2QGqBQW”
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)