Raynaud's disease (patient information)
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What is Raynaud's disease?
How do I know if I have Raynaud's disease and what are the symptoms of Raynaud's disease?
Raynaud's disease usually affect the fingers and toes, beginning in one finger or toe and moving on to other fingers or toes. The attacks can last from less than a minute to several hours. Usual signs and symptoms are:
- Turn pale or white and then blue
- Feel numb, cold, or painful
- Turn red, throb, tingle, burn, or feel numb as blood flow returns to the affected areas
Who is at risk for Raynaud's disease?
The underlying cause of Raynaud's disease is not clear. Clinical studies demonstrate the following factors may be associated with the onset of this disease.
- Cold temperatures
- Stress
- Family history of Raynaud's disease
- Female gender
- Age between 15~30
How to know you have Raynaud's disease?
- Medical history and physical examination
- Cold stimulation test: Cold stimulation can be used to trigger Raynaud's disease. During this test, your hands may be placed in ice water or exposed to cold air to trigger an episode of Raynaud's disease. Then, the doctor measures the time for your fingers to return to their original temperature. If your fingers appear color changes and feel numb or pain, and the time to return to original temperature is longer than 20 minutes, your doctor may consider Raynaud's disease.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for Raynaud's disease?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Raynaud's disease
Prevention of Raynaud's disease
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Copyleft Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/raynaud/ray_what.html
http://www.skinsight.com/adult/raynaudsDisease.htm