Cold hands, warm heart? Raynaud's syndrome is a painful hand disease!

Did you ever see your finger become white and a few moments later become pink again? Some people experience a very painful variant of this phenomenon, a.k.a. Raynauld’s syndrome. Raynaud’s syndrome (or: Raynaud’s disease) is a vascular disorder characterized by blood flow extremities in the fingers (sometimes as well: the toes, ears or nose) when exposed to cold objects, sometimes also as a result of stress. The symptoms of this hand disorder include a cyclic color changes (see also the picture below): • 1 – First stage: white fingers (blood supply is reduced); • 2 – Second stage: blue fingers (due to depleted oxygen supply); • 3 – Third stage: red finger (the blood supply returns); • 4 – Final stage: the skin color becomes normal. The exact cause is unknown, however the Raynaud’s phenomenon is considered as a hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system, which causes extreme vasoconstriction of the peripheral blood vessels. Sometimes the problem is caused by a wide variety of other conditions, then it is usually diagnosed as Raynaud’s phenomenon. People who suffer on this disorder are adviced to keep their hands warm, and to avoid stressful situations. And as a result these people are often forced to live their life carefully: likely an example of ‘cold hands, warm heart’! SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: • Raynaud’s syndrome: an example of ‘cold hands, warm heart’? • A guide for Raynaud’s disease patients • Healing by gentle touch reduces stress & pain! Take a look at RAPHaEL at Youtube:

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