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Raynaud's disease is when you feel extreme coldness in the hands or feet. The fingers and toes become white and numb, then turn to blue. When the blood returns to the tissue of your hands they will turn red.
Your fingers and toes change colors due to the blood vessels in your fingers, toes, ears or nose growing too small for blood to circulate properly. The reduced circulation is caused by cold temperatures and injuries, such as cuts and bruises. The amount of blood needed for proper circulation can be restricted from less than a minute to several hours, causing tremendous pain. We do not know what causes Raynaud's disease.
What we do know is that an estimated 5 to 10 percent of the US general population is affected. Women between the ages of 15 to 45 are more likely than men to have the disorder. Raynaud's disease occurs more often in those that live in colder weather. In milder areas people are affected during periods of colder weather.
There is no test for Raynaud's disease. The disease is diagnosed by the symptoms. The treatment is to keep your hands warm and avoid injury. A simple cut on the hands or feet can easily become infection.
Lifestyle adjustments can be made to control the disease. A reduced fat diet, increasing exercise, maintaining normal body weight, stopping smoking and managing stress can help the blood circulate properly.
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