Raynaud's Phenomenon.
Last updated Monday, December 27, 2004
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SymptomsAnatomy During an episode of Raynaud's phenomenon, the blood vessels in the
affected areas--usually the fingers and/or toes--become narrower for a
short time. This narrowing prevents the blood from flowing freely to
the affected area.Symptoms As the blood flow decreases due to the narrowing of blood vessels, the following symptoms may be noted:
- Change of skin color in the affected area. First, the skin may turn
white because there is little blood in that area. Then it may turn blue
because the blood remains stagnant in the blood vessels due to improper
flow. Finally, the skin my turn red or purple as blood begins flowing
again. Sometimes skin may turn only white or blue.
- Numbness and/or coldness in the affected area as the blood flow slows. Pain may occur during episodes of secondary Raynaud's.
- Swelling, tingling, aching, warmth, and/or throbbing in the affected area as the blood begins flowing again.
Episodes of Raynaud's phenomenon usually occur only once in a while and typically don't cause permanent damage. Some people,
however, may have frequent and severe episodes.
Without treatment, secondary Raynaud's phenomenon can damage the
affected part of the body. When blood does not flow adequately to the
tissues, sores called ulcers may develop. If left untreated, these
sores can become infected and may take a long time to heal. This kind
of damage rarely happens in primary Raynaud's phenomenon. Therefore, it
is important to find out what type of Raynaud's phenomenon is present
so that the proper treatment can be applied to prevent damage.
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