Who is affected by raynauds phenomenon

There are also simple things you can do yourself, such as Soaking hands in warm water at the first sign of an attack Keeping your hands and feet warm in cold weather Avoiding triggers, such as certain medicines and stress NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Treatments and Therapies. Related Issues. Raynaud's Phenomenon VisualDX. Clinical Trials. Article: Occupational noise exposure and Raynaud's phenomenon: a nested case-control study.

Raynaud's Disease -- see more articles. Find an Expert. Order blood and other lab tests to help decide which type of the condition you have. How is it treated? Who treats it? Other specialists who may be involved in your care include: Cardiologists, who specialize in treating heart and blood vessel problems. Dermatologists, who specialize in conditions of the skin, hair, and nails. Mental health professionals, who can help people cope with difficulties in the home and workplace that may result from their medical conditions.

Primary care doctors, such as family physicians or internal medicine specialists, who coordinate care between the different health care providers and treat other problems as they arise. Surgeons, including hand specialists, who may be orthopaedists, plastic surgeons, or vascular surgeons. Living With It. Keeping your hands and feet, as well as your entire body, warm is important.

If it is cold outside, try not to go out. If you go out when it is cold, dress warmly, wearing several layers of clothing. Be sure to use a hat or hood. Consider heated gloves or hand warmers. Protect your hands with gloves when you handle cold or frozen items. Bring a sweater or jacket if you go somewhere that may be air-conditioned. If you smoke or vape, talk to your doctor about making a plan to quit. Nicotine can increase the chance of an attack.

Some medications can bring on attacks, so talk to your doctor about those you take and before starting any new ones. If an attack occurs, place your hands or feet in a warm place, such as under warm not hot water or under a heating pad. You can also warm your hands by whirling your arms in a windmill pattern or placing them under your armpits. However, sometimes medications are needed, and many options are available. These include blood pressure medications such as calcium channel blockers amlodipine, nifedipine, felodipine, and others and angiotensin-receptor blockers.

These medications act by increasing blood flow to the fingers and toes. For patients with more severe symptoms or who have developed complications such as ulcers on the fingertips, other medications can be used including sildenafil or prostacyclins. Sometimes, patients will also be prescribed other medications that can help improve symptoms, including topical creams, selective-serotonin-reuptake inhibitors SSRIs , or cholesterol-lowering statin medications.

Rheumatologists are doctors who are experts in diagnosing and treating arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. They can also advise patients about the best treatment options. This information is provided for general education only.