Raynaud's Disease

Raynaud’s disease is a condition that causes some areas of your body such as your fingers, toes, tip of your nose and your ears; to feel numb and cool in response to cold temperatures or stress.  The blood vessels constrict and the blood supply to certain areas is reduced and causes an attack or episode.  This results in several skin color changes which are often accompanied by a burning or throbbing sensation.  There is no exact cause of Raynaud’s disease but there is research that is being determined it, the episodes are usually triggered by cold weather or by touching cold objects.  This disease occurs more frequently in women than in men but it may occur at any age usually between the ages of 15 and 40.  Raynaud’s disease is divided into two categories, primary and secondary. Primary occurs when an individual has the color changes along with typical symptoms of pain or numbness.  Secondary occurs when the episodes are related to another medical condition which is causing the attacks.  Raynaud’s disease is diagnosed if the episodes occur periodically for at least two years, if there is no other identifiable cause, if the attacks occur in both hands, or if the two of the three color changes occur during attacks which are provoked by cold or stress.  There is no cure for this condition although most of the episodes can be controlled with proper medicine care.