Treatment FAQ

what is the best treatment for raynaud's syndrome

by Mr. Douglas D'Amore PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Many health care professionals believe that the most effective and safest drugs are calcium- channel blockers, which relax smooth muscles and dilate the small blood vessels. These drugs decrease the frequency and severity of attacks in about two-thirds of patients who have Primary or Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.Aug 14, 2019

Medication

Nov 22, 2021 · Most experts agree the best way to handle Raynaud’s is to avoid cold temperatures and stress. Such avoidance measures, obviously, are not always practical. To date, there is no medication that eliminates Raynaud’s attacks, but there are some medications that decrease their severity or frequency. The standard medication offered severe Raynaud’s …

Procedures

Treatment of Raynaud’s Phenomenon Medications. While there are no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Raynaud’s phenomenon,... Surgery. If you have severe Raynaud’s phenomenon, your doctor may recommend a procedure called a sympathectomy to...

Self-care

Dec 30, 2019 · The article lists the following: Sympathetic Nerve Block Injections Botox ® Injections (still experimental and not clinically proven) Surgical Sympathectomies Spinal Cord Stimulation (a new one we haven’t heard before)

Nutrition

Nov 17, 2021 · Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are the first-line medication for the treatment of Raynaud’s disease. These medications, such as amlodipine and nifedipine, work by relaxing blood vessel muscles. Your doctor may try other blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor inhibitors ( losartan ), or alpha-blockers (prazosin).

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Your Raynaud’s disease might be old, but its remedy is far older! Ginkgo Biloba has been used since centuries in China and Japan. It is a popular ingredient of herbal teas and food. Recent medical researches have shown that consuming it regularly can improve blood chemistry. In the long run, it can help to reduce and prevent Raynaud’s attacks.

What is the best treatment for Raynaud's disease?

Jan 20, 2020 · For some time now, Botox injections have been performed as a treatment for severe Raynaud’s syndrome. But at UVA Health, specially trained musculoskeletal radiologists now use ultrasound-guidance as a new technique for these injections, making the procedure more precise while attempting to reduce the chances of complications.

What is the best treatment for Reynauds?

Mar 17, 2022 · What Is The Best Treatment For Raynaud’S? In healthcare, doctors recommend calcium- channel blockers since they are very effective and safe. They release smooth muscles and dilate small blood vessels at the same time.More than two-thirds of patients suffering from primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon are less likely to suffer from attacks.

How to treat Raynaud's naturally?

Vitamin E is known to improve blood circulation. In cases of Raynaud’s where the cause was exposure to vibration in machinery, it is believed to reduce the symptoms to a great extent. Vitamin E is a plant based vitamin. Some of the cooking oils, nuts and seeds are exceptionally rich in Vitamin E. Listed below are the best sources of Vitamin E-

What kind of Doctor treats Raynauds?

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What is the best medication for Raynaud's?

Calcium channel blockers are the class of drugs most widely used for treatment of Raynaud syndrome—especially the dihydropyridines (eg, nifedipine, nicardipine), which are the most potent vasodilators. Nifedipine is the customary first choice.Nov 23, 2020

How can I make my Raynaud's better?

Things you can do to help Raynaud'skeep your home warm.wear warm clothes during cold weather, especially on your hands and feet.exercise regularly – this helps improve circulation.try breathing exercises or yoga to help you relax.eat a healthy, balanced diet.

What vitamin is good for Raynaud's?

Inositol hexaniacinate , a form of vitamin B3 or niacin, may reduce frequency of Raynaud's attacks. In studies, people took high doses of inositol hexaniacinate, which can be dangerous if not monitored by a doctor.Jun 2, 2016

What aggravates Raynaud's?

Cold temperatures, smoking, and stress aggravate Raynaud's phenomenon. You can help reduce the number of attacks and improve your overall health by following these tips from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The ACR also advises those with Raynaud's to pay special attention to their hands and feet.Mar 2, 2016

What medications make raynauds worse?

What medications make Raynauds worse? Patients with Raynaud's should avoid medications that constrict blood vessels, including migraine medications (ergotamine and triptans), over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, diet aids, beta-blockers, and birth control pills.Nov 17, 2021

Does drinking water help Raynaud's?

Beta-blocker medicines, often used to treat high blood pressure, also can make Raynaud's worse. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, which can lower the amount of blood moving through the blood vessels.

How much magnesium should I take for Raynaud's?

Some doctors recommend that people with Raynaud's disease supplement with 200–600 mg of magnesium per day, although no clinical trials support this treatment.

Can Raynaud's be reversed?

Although there is no cure for Raynaud's, it can be treated. The key to managing Raynaud's symptoms is to try to prevent an attack - planning ahead is vital.Mar 31, 2021

Can aspirin help Raynaud's?

In less severe cases, medications that work to thin the blood, like low doses of acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®), can help to prevent or treat symptoms. With severe Raynaud's phenomenon, there are stronger medications that may reduce blood vessel spasms such as nitrates.

Does Raynaud's get worse with age?

It is a progressive condition, meaning it tends to worsen as a person gets older. Initially it may only affect the tips of the fingers or toes, but over time may affect whole fingers and toes.

How Serious Is Raynaud's syndrome?

In rare cases, Raynaud's can become severe. If it causes skin sores or gangrene—decay or death of body tissues—you may need antibiotics or surgery to remove the damaged tissue. In very serious cases, it might be necessary to remove the affected toe or finger. But don't panic—this is extremely rare.Mar 3, 2022

What is the difference between Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's syndrome?

Primary Raynaud's(or Raynaud's disease) happens without any other illness behind it. The symptoms are often mild. Secondary Raynaud's (Raynaud's syndrome, Raynaud's phenomenon) results from another illness. It's often a condition that attacks your body's connective tissues, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.Aug 23, 2021

What are the best treatments for Raynaud's disease?

When the above drugs aren’t enough, what are the treatment options for severe Raynaud’s sufferers? The article lists the following: 1 Sympathetic Nerve Block Injections 2 Botox ® Injections (still experimental and not clinically proven) 3 Surgical Sympathectomies 4 Spinal Cord Stimulation (a new one we haven’t heard before)

Can Raynaud's be treated?

The above treatment options for severe Raynaud’s won’t be needed for most sufferers, but it’s good to know there are alternatives for those who require more than the standard medication s.

Can you treat Raynaud's disease with lifestyle issues?

For most people living with Raynaud’s, they have the primary form which can often be addressed with lifestyle issues. But for those with more severe symptoms, particularly ...

What supplements can help with Raynaud's?

Some older research had suggested that taking essential fatty acid supplements may be mildly effective in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon. 4  And vitamin B3 (also known as niacin) was also thought to benefit people with Raynaud's since the nutrient causes blood vessels to dilate and stimulates circulation to the skin.

What are the other diseases associated with Raynaud's syndrome?

In some cases (known as "secondary Raynaud's"), the syndrome is associated with other conditions or lifestyle issues, including: Atherosclerosis. Buerger's disease. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Connect ive tissue diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, dermatomyositis, and polymyositis. Repeated injury.

Why do people with Raynaud's have a constricting blood vessel?

Scientists have yet to determine why the blood vessels of people with Raynaud's tend to spasm and constrict in response to cold temperatures and stress. However, the condition appears to be more common among women, as well as people who live in colder climates and/or have a family history of Raynaud's. 2 

Why does Raynaud's disease turn white?

Raynaud's Symptoms. Although symptoms vary from person to person, Raynaud's typically causes the affected body parts to turn white, then blue, in response to stress or exposure to cold. An attack can last a few minutes to more than an hour.

Does biofeedback help with Raynaud's disease?

Although some practitioners encourage using biofeedback to help control body temperature and lessen the severity and frequency of Raynaud's attacks, a research review published in 2009 concluded that biofeedback does not work for Raynaud's disease. 3 .

How to prevent Raynaud's attacks?

Wear warm clothing indoors. Keeping the entire body warm is a proven way to reduce the frequency and severity of Raynaud’s attacks. Wear warm clothing indoors. In the summertime, be ready to put on clothing before entering an air-conditioned building; the cold shock might trigger an attack.

How long does a Raynaud's attack last?

Raynaud’s attacks typically hold on longer than they do with normal cold responses. The white or blue phase of a Raynaud’s attack typically lasts for 20 minutes. In more severe cases, attacks can last for hours after the triggering event.

What age does primary Raynaud's occur?

Called primary Raynaud’s, this vasospasm condition is mild, often temporary, and not a health threat. Primary Raynaud’s usually begins between the ages of 15 to 25, primarily affects women, and is treated with lifestyle changes to keep the body warm and avoid triggers.

Can Raynaud's disease be cured?

A primary care physician can treat primary Raynaud, but secondary Raynaud’s will typically be treated by a rheumatologist. Neither primary nor secondary Raynaud’s can be cured, however, so treatment will be focused on limiting the frequency and severity of attacks.

Is Raynaud's disease more serious than secondary Raynaud's disease?

Secondary Raynaud’s is typically more serious. Attacks are more frequent, more severe, longer-lasting, and could cause sores, scars, and other tissue damage such as gangrene. For all these reasons, a physician needs to track down the underlying cause.

Is Raynaud's a scleroderma?

Most commonly, Raynaud’s is the first manifestation of systemic scleroderma, a connective tissue disease similar to rheumatism. But Raynaud’s can be caused by a wide variety of various conditions and diseases. Raynaud’s, then, is less a diagnosis than a mystery to be solved.

Can you get a blood test for Raynaud's?

Most patients with primary Raynaud’s can be treated with lifestyle changes only, but more severe cases may require medications or even surgery. There is no blood test or X-ray for Raynaud’s, so healthcare providers can only determine the effectiveness of Raynaud’s treatment based on the patient reports.

What is Raynaud's disease?

What is Raynaud’s Syndrome? Raynaud’s syndrome, also called Raynaud’s disease, is a disorder that affects the circulation in the extremities of the body. People with Raynaud’s have blood vessels (usually in the fingers or toes) that overreact to cold temperatures or emotional stress.

Does UVA Health use ultrasound guidance?

For some time now, Botox injections have been performed as a treatment for severe Raynaud’s syndrome. But at UVA Health, specially trained musculoskeletal radiologists now use ultrasound-guidance as a new technique for these injections, making the procedure more precise while attempting to reduce the chances of complications.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Preparing For Your Appointment

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment aims at reducing the severity and duration of attacks, and treat the underlying cause. Warm clothing is effective in preventing mild symptoms.
Medication

Calcium channel blockers: These widen little veins in hands and feet, diminishing the recurrence and seriousness of attacks.

Nifedipine . Amlodipine


Alpha blockers: Balance the activities of norepinephrine, a hormone that contracts veins.

Prazosin . Doxazosin


Vasodilators: Relax the blood vessels.

Nitroglycerin


Sedatives/neurotoxin: Injections to block sympathetic nerves in the affected hands or feet.

Onabotulinum toxin A

Procedures

Nerve surgery: Sympathetic nerves are removed to reduce the unintended response.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

Keep body warm. Protect limb ends from direct cold surfaces.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Vitamin B rich foods
  • Omega 3 fatty acids e.g. Fish oil
  • Calcium and magnesium rich foods
  • Vitamin E rich foods

Foods to avoid:

  • NA

Specialist to consult

Rheumatologist
Specializes in the treatment of arthritis, autoimmune diseases, pain disorders affecting joints, and osteoporosis.
Dermatologist
Specializes in the study of the skin and its disorders.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

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