{"id":371,"date":"2026-04-05T03:23:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T03:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=371"},"modified":"2026-04-05T03:23:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T03:23:23","slug":"the-unique-symptoms-of-raynauds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=371","title":{"rendered":"The Unique Symptoms Of Raynaud&#8217;s"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"block-pagetitle\" data-block-plugin-id=\"page_title_block\">\n<div class=\"article-header__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"article-header \">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 header-content-col\">\n<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n<p class=\"article-header__subheading\">Though rare, and usually just a nuisance, this unique condition can have some strange symptoms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 article-banner-below\">\n<div class=\"article-header__byline typog-body\">\n<div class=\"byline--content\"><span class=\"article-header__contributor\">Meghan Holmgren<span class=\"article-header__contributor--title\">, Managing Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bssb-container\">\n<div class=\"better-social-share-buttons\">\n<div data-block-plugin-id=\"social_sharing_buttons_block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-thewell-base-content\" data-block-plugin-id=\"system_main_block\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div id=\"js-related-carousel\" class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-8 no-horiz-padding-mobile\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"container body__copy \">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\n          \"><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"body-section__columns-wrapper body-section--spacing clearfix \">\n<div class=\"body-section__main            col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"exclude-bottom-margin\">\n<p>It\u2019s a rather startling sight: You look down to see that your fingers\u2014which you could swear were a healthy flesh tone just a second ago\u2014have turned a rather stark shade of blue or maybe even white. But while it may be easy to chalk your skin\u2019s color changes up to the temperature outside during colder months, if you notice it happening frequently, or say, whenever you grab a can of soda or are feeling particularly stressed, there might be more to it than just the weather.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, says one expert, what you may be experiencing is something called Raynaud\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n<p>To get more information on this rather distinct condition, we turned to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.northwell.edu\/find-care\/find-a-doctor\/rheumatology\/dr-sonali-narain-md-mph-11370115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sonali Narain, MD<\/a>, a board-certified rheumatologist and director of the Scleroderma and Raynaud Treatment Center at Northwell Health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"container body__copy \">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\n          \"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"typog-headline-level-3 exclude-top-margin col-xs-12\">What is Raynaud\u2019s disease?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"body-section__columns-wrapper body-section--spacing clearfix \">\n<div class=\"body-section__main            col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"exclude-bottom-margin\">\n<p>While Raynaud\u2019s disease\u2014also known as Raynaud\u2019s phenomenon\u2014most often describes the change of colors in a person\u2019s hands from normal flesh tone to white, red, or blue following an exposure to cold, other areas of the body can be affected as well. \u201cSometimes this can also happen in a person\u2019s feet, nose, and the earlobes,\u201d explains Narain. This discoloration is caused by what is referred to as a vasospasm, or the narrowing of the blood vessels in an affected area, which occurs after skin comes into contact with something cold (think winter air, the refrigerator aisle at the supermarket, or a soda can).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHaving said that, not all Raynaud\u2019s happens with cold exposure,\u201d adds Narain. \u201cIt can also happen at room temperature in patients who have very severe disease, or in response to stress or certain medications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During an \u201cattack,\u201d blood vessels in the hand contract. This contraction limits blood flow to the fingers and causes discoloration in the skin. However, she explains, attacks are not just limited to color change. \u201cThere\u2019s also discomfort that comes with it because you can have pain and burning and you can have numbness and tingling, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"body-section__image\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"body-section__image body-section__image--default image-spacing--sm col-xs-12\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-default--break-grid\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.northwell.edu\/m\/1739758b27880536\/Drupal-TheWell_raynauds-disease-symptoms-treatment_Julie-Shapiro.jpg\" alt=\"Woman\u2019s hand is pictured with the tip of her middle finger a stark white color.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption caption--image-inline\">Photo credit:\u00a0<span class=\"caption--credit\">Courtesy of Julie Shapiro<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"container body__copy \">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\n          \"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"typog-headline-level-3 exclude-top-margin col-xs-12\">Who does Raynaud\u2019s disease affect?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"body-section__columns-wrapper body-section--spacing clearfix \">\n<div class=\"body-section__main            col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"exclude-bottom-margin\">\n<p>\u201cA lot of patients will come in and describe their hands feeling very cold in the winter, or turning white when they were shoveling snow. But that\u2019s not necessarily Raynaud\u2019s,\u201d explains Narain. \u201cWhen someone actually has the disease, there\u2019s a pretty dramatic shift in discoloration that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For those who do have Raynaud\u2019s, the disease is classified in one of two ways.<\/p>\n<p>The first is what\u2019s referred to as primary Raynaud\u2019s. \u201cThese are people who have a family history of Raynaud\u2019s, where it probably existed in previous generations,\u201d explains Narain. Beyond family history, she adds that certain medications, like birth control pills, which change the way our blood vessels behave, may also cause patients to experience the condition. Patients with primary Raynaud\u2019s tend to skew on the younger side, with most diagnoses coming before the age of 30.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"highlights-subscribe container\">\n<hr class=\"highlights-subscribe--hr\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"highlights-subscribe--title\">Like what you\u2019re reading? Subscribe to our newsletter and get the same great content delivered straight to your inbox!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"highlights-subscribe--content\">\n<div class=\"form-highlight_subscribe__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"form-highlight_subscribe subscribe--form container\">\n<form id=\"marketo-subscribe-form--highlight_subscribe\" class=\"form-inline col-sm-12 js-marketo-form\" method=\"post\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<div class=\"row form-highlight_subscribe__group-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"form-name-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"form-email-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"form-group form-highlight_subscribe__group  col-xs-12 col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-lg-9\"><input id=\"form-highlight_subscribe__email\" class=\"marketo--email form-control form-control--full form-text required\" name=\"Email\" required=\"required\" type=\"email\" placeholder=\"example@example.com\" aria-required=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"form-button-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"form-group form-highlight_subscribe__group form-highlight_subscribe__group--submit col-xs-12 col-sm-3 col-md-3 col-md-3\"><button class=\"button subscribe-btn form-highlight_subscribe__submit\" type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">Subscribe<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"highlights-subscribe--disclaimer\">\n<p>By providing your email address, you agree to receive email communication from The Well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"highlights-subscribe--hr\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"container body__copy \">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\n          \"><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"body-section__columns-wrapper body-section--spacing clearfix \">\n<div class=\"body-section__main            col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"exclude-bottom-margin\">\n<p>And, Narain adds, for these individuals, the condition tends to be pretty benign. \u201cThis means that most often, primary Raynaud\u2019s will not get worse over time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The other form of the condition, referred to as secondary Raynaud\u2019s, is most commonly diagnosed in patients who smoke, have had exposure to certain workplace chemicals, had previous injuries to the hands or feet, have an autoimmune condition, or have another medical condition that predisposes them to Raynaud\u2019s. But while both primary and secondary Raynaud\u2019s present in the same way\u2014with distinctive discoloration of the skin\u2014Narain says that for those with secondary Raynaud\u2019s, there is a possibility of complications.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the patients with autoimmune conditions that we worry about\u2014specifically those with scleroderma,\u201d Narain says. \u201cThese patients tend to develop ulcers in their fingers because of lack of blood supply, which can lead to the dissolution of their bones and leave them with shortening of the digits.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"container body__copy \">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\n          \"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"typog-headline-level-3 exclude-top-margin col-xs-12\">How do you treat Raynaud\u2019s disease?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"body-section__columns-wrapper body-section--spacing clearfix \">\n<div class=\"body-section__main            col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"exclude-bottom-margin\">\n<p>While roughly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health-topics\/raynauds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5% of the U.S. population has Raynaud\u2019s<\/a>, for most people the condition amounts to little more than a nuisance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe most important thing is management,\u201d says Narain. \u201cSo recognizing that you have the condition and doing everything that you can do to prevent these attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For those with Raynaud\u2019s\u2014both primary and secondary\u2014prevention comes down to following a few measures:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use hand warmers<\/li>\n<li>Double glove in cold weather<\/li>\n<li>Use heaters in spaces\u2014like offices\u2014where you can\u2019t control the temperature<\/li>\n<li>Reduce stress<\/li>\n<li>Limit caffeine intake<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t smoke<\/li>\n<li>Avoid medications known to cause vasospasms (such as certain birth controls, blood pressure medications, and more)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In order to know which of your current medications may predispose you to Raynaud\u2019s, Narain suggests consulting with your doctor to identify opportunities to switch medications where possible.<\/p>\n<p>And if, after taking all of these steps, you\u2019re still suffering from Raynaud\u2019s attacks, then a conversation with your doctor may be in order. \u201cSo if you\u2019ve done your due diligence and you\u2019re still having episodes of symptoms, then we go to medications that help improve blood circulation to avoid these attacks,\u201d explains Narain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Though rare, and usually just a nuisance, this unique condition can have some strange symptoms. Meghan Holmgren, Managing Editor It\u2019s a rather startling sight: You look down to see that &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=371"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":373,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371\/revisions\/373"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}