Who gets Raynaud Disease?

Condition analysis:
Although people of any age can have Raynaud’s phenomenon, the primary form typically begins before the age of 30 and often runs in families. Women are more likely than men to have Raynaud’s phenomenon. It appears to be more common in people who live in colder climates. This is likely true because people with the disorder have more Raynaud’s attacks during periods of colder weather. For most, the symptoms are mild and not associated with any blood vessel or tissue damage.

Most people with Raynaud’s phenomenon have the primary form, which is not associated with any underlying disease. In fact, in these individuals it is thought to be an exaggeration of normal responses to cold temperature and/or stress.

When Raynaud’s phenomenon is caused by or associated with an underlying disease, it is referred to as secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon. Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon tends to begin later in life than the primary form.

It is common for patients with a connective tissue disease to have Raynaud’s phenomenon. It occurs in more than 90 percent of people with scleroderma. It is also common in people with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sj?gren’s syndrome. Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon may also be associated with diseases of the arteries, smoking, and overuse and other injuries that cause trauma to the hands and wrists. And it may be linked to certain drugs such as chemotherapy agents or to chemicals such as vinyl chloride.

Instructions:
Relaxation techniques: Much of the research on Raynaud points to mental health as an important trigger for the disease. It is also one of the main symptoms – additional emotional stress. For this reason, most alternative treatments must be accompanied by relaxation techniques of some kind, which have been shown to relax the tension in the body, increasing circulation and positive endorphins. Yoga pilates and meditation are all known to help reduce the appearance of episodes of Raynaud.