Do you dread the cold because your fingers and toes often throb, tingle, or turn blue? If this is the case, you could be suffering from Raynaud’s disease. While Doctors don’t know the actual cause, they do know that in the case of this disease hands and toes when exposed to cold, or sometimes stress can cause the blood vessels to narrow which in turn limits the amount of blood flow to the area.
This disease is more prevalent in women and colder climates. While in most cases, it is not debilitating, it can be if precautions are not taken. There are two forms of this disease one is the primary form which occurs when there is no other underlying cause, and the other is the secondary form, which may arise due to other underlying illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, atherosclerosis, and other connective tissue disorders.
Once your Doctor has diagnosed this ailment, there are some things that you can do, to bring relief from symptoms and lessen the frequency of flare-ups.
Protection from the cold
Bundling up in the winter can decrease your symptoms.
Avoid smoking
Smoking causes constriction of blood vessels, which leads to flare-ups.
Avoid stress
Stress causes constriction of blood vessels, which can usher in an attack.
Avoid caffeine
Caffeine also causes constriction of blood vessels.
Increase vitamin B3 foods
Tuna, peanuts, green peas, sweet potatoes, avocados, are all foods that help strengthen blood circulation.
Potassium-rich foods
Bananas, ginger, coconut water, almonds, help to decrease stress, which can trigger a flare up and strengthens blood circulation.
While there is no cure for this ailment your decision to manage this disease with a change in habits can go a long way in maintaining the number of times you have to endure the results of some trigger that only exacerbates the symptoms. Always remember, just because you have arrived at a wrong place, does not mean you have to stay there.
