| RAYNAUD'S:
MAIN MENU |
|
| Raynaud's
Prevention |
| This page was written
by Shelley Ensz,
and has not yet been medically edited. Scleroderma (SD) affects
everyone differently. Just because something is listed here
does not mean an individual patient will ever experience it.
See Disclaimer. |
|
| Alcohol Consumption |
| Smoking, Alcohol and Raynaud's. Heavy alcohol consumption was independently associated with increased odds of Raynaud’s among women and red wine consumption was associated with reduced odds of Raynaud’s. Men who drank red wine also had a lower prevalence of the condition than those who did not. Smoking negated the positive effects of moderate red wine consumption in men. Arthritis Foundation. 08/28/07. |
| Avoid Cold |
| Stay indoors and in warm environments
as much as possible. |
| Keep a pair of gloves or mittens available at all times. Put them on before your hands get cold. |
| Wear mittens or gloves when taking things
out of the freezer or refrigerator, and grocery shopping. |
| Use heating aids for keeping the hands and feet warm. See rewarming techniques. |
| Keep your chest and head well covered
to keep your core body temperature high. This works because
the body needs to keep the heart and brain warm. When they
become chilled, the body conserves heat by depriving blood
from the extremities. |
| Dress in layers and in thermal
clothing. Wear silk underwear, because it keeps the body warm.
Shop in the sporting goods department for thermal socks, underwear
and vests. Wear warm clothing year around, if air conditioning poses a problem. |
| Wardvoff
those winter ailments. There's no need to be laid low
by colds and flu in the cold months ahead. Raynauds: "Start
the day with a bowl of hot porridge or cereal with hot milk," advises
Anne Mawdsley of the Raynaud's
and Scleroderma Association. "Try to eat lots of
small meals to maintain energy and heat levels. Hot drinks
between meals and before bed are essential." A trial
at the University of Dundee using Seredrin high-strength
gingko biloba with phytosome reduced the frequency of Raynaud's
attacks in sufferers by an average of 70 per cent. telegraph.co.uk
01/05/04 (Also see: Raynaud's
and Scleroderma Association of UK) |
| Avoid Vasoconstrictors
such as Caffeine, Cocaine, Marijuana and Nicotine |
| Caffeine, cocaine, marijuana, nicotine, novacaine and many herbs and medications restrict
blood vessels. So they are a great big no-no for people with
Raynaud's! |
| Be on guard for hidden sources
of caffeine in tea, soda, chocolate, some aspirins, herbal
preparations, and medications. |
| Smokers
With Systemic Sclerosis Risk Severe Digital Vascular Complications. Patients
with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who smoke are three to four
times more likely than are never-smokers to incur digital
vascular complications, researchers in England have found. Doctor's
Guide. 1/24/03 Arthritis & Rheumatism 2002;46:12:3312-3316.
(Also see: Digital
Ulcers) |
| Caffeine also worsens heartburn/reflux in
Scleroderma by relaxing the esophageal sphincter and allowing
the stomach contents to flow back up into the esophagus. It's
usually easier to quit caffeine gradually (over the course
of a week or so) rather than "cold turkey". |
| Marijuana:
A 24-year old woman, heavy cannabis smoker with progressive
Raynaud's phenomenon and digital necrosis is presented. This
observation demonstrates that cannabis may represent a possible
cofactor in the pathogenesis of arteritis in young smokers.
Early recognition is important to avoid irreversible complications
such as loss of digits. PubMed. Vasa. 2003 May;32(2):95-7.
(Also see: Digital
Ulcers, and Causes
of Scleroderma) |
| Crissie:
Surviving Sister of Scleroderma Patient I also want
everyone to know that if you have Raynaud's, scleroderma
or lupus, please, please do not smoke or drink... |
| Avoid Bad Vibrations |
| Powered-Tool
Usage Leads to Artery Damage. Past studies have shown
that years of working with hand held powered-tools could
cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), known as secondary
Raynaud's disease of occupational origin. Researchers demonstrated
that four hours of vibration causes blood vessel constriction
and produces damage to arterial smooth muscle and the endothelial
cells which line the vessels. Newswise. Medical College
of Wisconsin. 04/19/04. |
| Avoid Pressure on Fingertips |
| Typing can induce Raynaud's and cause discomfort to sore fingertips. Take frequent breaks, do hand exercises, use a Heatsock for
a wrist rest, or use voice-command software. |
| Use shoulder bags, backpacks or a shopping trolley to transport items. This will prevent too much pressure from being applied to sore fingers and will prevent restriction of the blood supply to the hands and fingers. |
| Quit Smoking |
| Digital Ulcers. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to narrow. It has been proved that smoking one cigarette has been shown to decrease the temperature of the extremities by one degree over a twenty minute period. Passive smoking can also be dangerous so encourage anyone who lives with you to stop smoking and avoid places where cigarette smoke is likely to be present. Patients with scleroderma who smoke are three to four times more likely than are non smokers to incur digital vascular complications. Raynaud's and Scleroderma Association. |
| Tobacco smoking and autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Smoking affects both the course and the outcome of rheumatic diseases. (PubMed) Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2007 Dec;3(12):707-15. (Also see: Pulmonary) |
| Marijuana:
A 24-year old woman, heavy cannabis smoker with progressive
Raynaud's phenomenon and digital necrosis is presented. This
observation demonstrates that cannabis may represent a possible
cofactor in the pathogenesis of arteritis in young smokers.
Early recognition is important to avoid irreversible complications
such as loss of digits. PubMed. Vasa. 2003 May;32(2):95-7.
(Also see: Raynaud's
Prevention and Causes
of Scleroderma) |
| Smokers
With Systemic Sclerosis Risk Severe Digital Vascular Complications. Patients
with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who smoke are three to four
times more likely than are never-smokers to incur digital
vascular complications, researchers in England have found. Doctor's
Guide. 1/24/03 Arthritis & Rheumatism 2002;46:12:3312-3316.
(Also see: Raynaud's) |
| Avoid Stress |
| Reduce stress and use relaxation
techniques, since stress can trigger Raynaud's. Biofeedback
may help, however its often less effective in Scleroderma patients
than in those with primary Raynaud's. |
| Arguments
dramatically slow wound healing! |
Arguments
dramatically slow wound healing. The stress a married couple
experiences during a 30-minute argument can delay their bodies’
ability to heal a wound by at least a day, according to a new
study. And if the couples’ relationship endures routine hostility,
the delay can be even longer. There could be important implications
for people suffering from chronic wounds, such as skin ulcers. New
Scientist. 12-05-05. (Also see: Causes
of Scleroderma: Stress) |
| Related Books |
| Raynaud's
Phenomenon by Jay D. Coffman Get the most up-to-date
knowledge concerning Raynaud's! "If you, or someone
you know, has been diagnosed I (a fellow Raynaud's "sufferer")
absolutely recommend it!" —Stephen |
