The Cold Truth About Raynaud’s
Having cold feet can be more than just a nuisance. Cold feet or toes can signal damaged nerves, blocked arteries, and Raynaud’s disease. If you’ve never heard of Raynaud’s, you’re not alone. Raynaud’s Awareness Month, celebrated every October, aims to improve public information about this relatively common, often misunderstood disease.
Raynaud’s disease is sometimes called Raynaud’s phenomenon or Raynaud’s syndrome. Interestingly the problem has so many names, as though nobody can agree on what to call it. Perhaps it’s because researchers haven’t been able to hone in on the exact cause of Raynaud’s. We don’t know why it afflicts some people and not others. But one thing we know for sure: it’s a circulation problem.
Blood vessels in spasm
Raynaud’s causes the tiny blood vessels in your fingers and toes to contract in response to cold. These contractions, or vasospasms, prevent proper blood flow to your extremities. The lack of blood circulating into your fingers or toes causes discoloration – fingers and toes typically look white as a ghost; In African-Americans, digits may instead darken significantly. Vasospasms can also cause pain and numbness. Many Raynaud’s sufferers report the pain is greatest when spasms stop and blood flow resumes.
Two types of Raynaud’s
- Most people with Raynaud’s have no underlying issues that point to this unique type of circulation issue. They have Primary Raynaud’s.
- Raynaud’s can be a symptom of an underlying autoimmune disease such as lupus. We call this Secondary Raynaud’s.
If you have symptoms of Raynaud’s, whether mild or severe, do bring it to the attention of your primary care physician or our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, and Dr. Jim Swienconek. We can evaluate your feet and offer medications and/or lifestyle changes that lessen Raynaud’s symptoms. We can also rule out any other circulatory or nervous system problem that’s chilling your toes. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.
