Does my child have Raynaud's?

Signs and symptoms

During a Raynaud's attack, little or no blood flows to the affected fingers or toes. This causes the skin to turn white, then blue, for a short time. As blood flow returns, the affected areas turn red and may throb, tingle or feel numb.

What age is Raynaud's diagnosed?

Age. Although anyone can develop the condition, primary Raynaud's often begins between the ages of 15 and 30.

How do you test for Raynaud's?

To tell the difference between primary and secondary Raynaud's, your doctor might do a test called nailfold capillaroscopy. During the test, the doctor looks at the skin at the base of your fingernail under a microscope or magnifier to look for deformities or swelling of the tiny blood vessels.

When should I see a doctor about Raynaud's?

When to See a Doctor. Severe cases of Raynaud's can lead to tissue death (gangrene). See your doctor if you have a history of severe Raynaud's and have developed sores or ulcers on your fingers or toes, or if you have an infection. You should also tell your doctor if attacks happen on only one side or your body.

Is Raynaud's an autoimmune disorder?

Summary. Raynaud's phenomenon is the short-term interruption of blood flow to the extremities, such as the fingers and toes. Raynaud's phenomenon may be a sign of an underlying autoimmune disorder such as scleroderma or lupus, so it's important to see your doctor for diagnosis.

Raynaud's phenomenon - Akron Children's Hospital video

What foods to avoid if you have Raynaud's?

Always try to maintain a balanced, healthy diet and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Some food supplements have helped Raynaud's sufferers, including evening primrose oil, gingko biloba and fish oils. Certain foods are also believed to help, like ginger, garlic and spicy food.

Is Raynaud's hereditary?

Inheritance. Raynaud phenomenon sometimes runs in families, but the inheritance pattern is unknown. Studies suggest that about 30 percent of people with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) who has primary Raynaud phenomenon also have the condition.

What triggers Raynaud's disease?

Raynaud's disease is when blood vessels in your fingers and toes temporarily overreact to low temperatures or stress. For most people, it isn't a serious health problem. But for some, the reduced blood flow can cause damage.

What aggravates Raynaud's?

Cold temperatures, smoking, and stress aggravate Raynaud's phenomenon. You can help reduce the number of attacks and improve your overall health by following these tips from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The ACR also advises those with Raynaud's to pay special attention to their hands and feet.

Why are my child's hands always cold?

Cold hands may be caused by simply being in a cold room or other chilly environment. Cold hands are often a sign that your body is trying to maintain its normal body temperature. Always having cold hands, however, could mean there's a problem with your blood flow or the blood vessels in your hands.

What is similar to Raynaud's?

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematous) Scleroderma. CREST syndrome (a form of scleroderma) Buerger disease.

Is Raynaud's serious?

Raynaud's phenomenon is common and does not usually cause severe problems. You can often treat the symptoms yourself by keeping warm. Sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Is Raynaud's disease reversible?

Raynaud syndrome is reversible vasospasm of parts of the hand in response to cold or emotional stress. Raynaud syndrome may be primary or secondary to another disorder, typically one affecting connective tissue. Primary Raynaud syndrome, unlike the secondary form, rarely causes gangrene or tissue loss.

Can anxiety cause Raynaud's?

Cold, of course, is the main trigger in Raynaud's phenomenon, although roughly one-third of patients experience it in response to stress and anxiety -- another indication that the condition is neurological and even psychological in origin.

Can Raynaud's affect the brain?

When it's cold outside, some lupus patients develop Raynaud's, which is where the vessels over constrict and turn blue. If it's warm, they can over dilate and turn red. The same phenomenon can occur in the brain. Over dilation can cause a headache and over constriction can produce a mental fog.

What is the life expectancy of someone with Raynaud's disease?

Under the broad definition, the median survival time was 11.0 years (95% CI: 10.0–12.1 years) for white subjects without RP, compared to 8.1 years (95% CI: 6.0–11.8 years) for white subjects with RP.

How do you fix Raynaud's disease?

There is no cure for Raynaud's disease, but there are ways to manage symptoms. For mild forms of Raynaud's disease, covering exposed skin before leaving the house can help. If an attack occurs, soaking the affected parts in warm, not hot, water can alleviate symptoms and prevent them from worsening.

Can you have Raynaud's without lupus?

Raynaud's phenomenon occurs in about 85 to 95 percent of patients with scleroderma and is present in about one-third of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). Raynaud's also can occur in patients who have other connective tissue diseases, including Sjögren's syndrome, dermatomyositis and polymyositis.

Can you outgrow Raynaud's?

Most children with Raynaud's phenomenon have no complications. While they may not outgrow their condition, it likely won't get any worse and they'll live a normal life. For the rare few with secondary Raynaud's, there is a risk of tissue damage if their condition is severe and their attacks tend to last a long time.

What vitamins are good for Raynaud's?

Inositol hexaniacinate , a form of vitamin B3 or niacin, may reduce frequency of Raynaud's attacks.

What percentage of the population has Raynaud's?

As many as five percent of the United States population has Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's phenomenon, 80 percent of those with the condition are women.

Can vitamin deficiency cause Raynaud's?

Abnormalities of magnesium metabolism have been reported in people with Raynaud's disease. Symptoms similar to those seen with Raynaud's disease occur in people with magnesium deficiency, probably because a deficiency of this mineral results in spasm of blood vessels.

Does Raynaud's affect your nails?

Raynaud's phenomenon is a disorder, causing discolouration of the fingers. It is thought to be related to vasospasm. It can also affect the toes and other areas. The nails become brittle with longitudinal ridges.

Does drinking water help Raynaud's?

They make blood vessels constrict. Beta-blocker medicines, often used to treat high blood pressure, also can make Raynaud's worse. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, which can lower the amount of blood moving through the blood vessels.

Can a dermatologist diagnose Raynaud's?

Raynaud's syndrome is treated by a number of health care professionals. Often, the diagnosis is made by the primary care physician or a rheumatologist. Sometimes, the diagnosis may also be made by a dermatologist (skin doctor) or a vascular surgeon.