Raynaud's Phenomenon
Raynaud's Phenomenon (pronounced ray-NOHZ fen-uh-ME-non) is a medical condition characterized by episodic vasospasm (narrowing of the blood vessels) in the fingers and toes, often in response to cold or stress.
Etymology
The condition is named after the French physician Auguste Gabriel Maurice Raynaud, who first described it in his doctoral thesis in 1862.
Symptoms
The primary symptoms of Raynaud's Phenomenon include cold fingers or toes, color changes in the skin in response to cold or stress, and a numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief.
Types
There are two types of Raynaud's Phenomenon: Primary Raynaud's (also known as Raynaud's Disease) and Secondary Raynaud's (also known as Raynaud's Syndrome). Primary Raynaud's is the most common type and isn't associated with any underlying medical condition. Secondary Raynaud's is less common but is often a symptom of another medical condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Raynaud's Phenomenon typically involves a thorough medical history and physical examination. In some cases, a doctor may perform a nailfold capillaroscopy, where a drop of oil is placed on the patient's nailfold, then examined under a microscope to look for abnormalities of the tiny blood vessels.
Treatment
Treatment for Raynaud's Phenomenon focuses on reducing the number and severity of attacks to prevent tissue damage. This can include lifestyle changes, such as avoiding cold and stress, and medication to dilate blood vessels. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Raynaud's Phenomenon
- Wikipedia's article - Raynaud's Phenomenon
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski