Transcript Raynaud’s Phenomenon - Shorecrest Preparatory School

Raynaud’s Phenomenon
Helen Kline
Scottish Radiology Society
What Is Raynaud’s
Phenomenon???
 The discoloration of fingers and/or toes
 More serious form of disease
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Primary Raynauds
 Most common form of Raynauds skin
disorder
 No underlying disease or associated
medical problem
Cedars-Sinai
Who’s at Risk???
 Usually begins between 15 years old
and 40 years old
 More common in women than men
Causes
 Exact causes are unknown…
Guesses Include:
 Nerve control of the blood vessel diameter
is abnormal
 Nerve sensitivity to cold temperatures
Medline Plus
Symptoms
 Swelling, tingling, aching, throbbing
 Change in skin color (blue, purple,
white)
 Numbness
 Pain
 Sores
Episodes last about 15 minutes
ISPUB
Conditions Associated with
Raynaud’s Phenomenon
 Rheumatic diseases
 Trauma (frostbite)
 Hormonal Imblance
 Inderal (blocks a portion of the
sympathetic system)
 Blenoxane (used in cancer treatments
 Nicotine
Non-Drug
Treatment/Prevention
 Stay warm
 Quit Smoking
 Reduce Stress and alcohol consumption
 Exercise
 Avoids tools that vibrate
 See a doctor regularly
Drug Treatment
 calcium-channel blockers: dilate blood
vessels
 alpha-blockers: the norepinephrine
hormone (increases blood pressure)
 nitroglycerine paste: heals ulcers
SCLERO
IS There a Cure?
No cure has been discovered yet…..
 A gel is being studied which uses the
local production of nitric oxide in
involved fingers and toes. The gel may
dilate the blood vessels and improve
circulation.
Mayo Foundation
Related Links
 Raynaud’s Phenomenon ( great info on
what Raynaud from MedicineNet.com)
 Treatment (info on treatment from
Medical College of Wisconsin)
 Symptoms (Arthritis Foundation on
symptoms)
 Graphics (awesome pictures from The
Internet Journal of Rheumatology)
Related Links
 X-ray Graphic (radiology from the
Scottish Radiology Society)
 Blood Constriction (Medline Plus good
pictures)
 Mayo Foundation (first hand stories)
 Primary Raynauds (Cedars-Sinai medical
information)