If you experience extreme pain in your hands when cold, you may be suffering from Raynaud’s disease. Raynaud’s disease is a disease that usually affects the fingers and toes, causing pain and numbness in the hands and feet in the cold. The person may also experience swelling in the hands and feet.
What is Raynaud’s Disease?
Raynaud’s disease is a disease that affects the fingers and toes. People may also develop Raynaud’s disease if their bodies get cold in extreme cold, such as a fever-like symptom, severe hypothermia or prolonged exposure to cold.
Causes of Raynaud’s Disease
The cause of Raynaud’s disease has not been fully determined. It can be caused by infectious agents such as the viral or bacterial virus, fungi, or bacteria, or the hereditary (genetic) defects (disorders) of the nervous system or the skin.
What are the complications of Raynaud’s disease?
The causes of Raynaud’s disease can be fatal.
Fatal complications include:
Cerebral edema: in the lower part of the body (stomach, intestines, and/or chest wall)
Pneumonia: in the lungs, or both lungs, which may cause severe death in some people.
Severe arthritis: in the joints
Dehydration: with or without fever
Raynaud’s disease may be treatable with medications called antidiuretics, anti-vascular (e.g., furosemide), and blood-thinning medications called vasoactive agents.
Treatment of Raynaud’s Disease
If there is any symptom of Raynaud’s disease, take an antibiotic as soon as possible.
Antibiotics (or antidiuretic drugs) can help relieve symptoms of Raynaud’s disease.
There are many medications available that can help control the symptoms of Raynaud’s disease. Many of these drugs can be found in pharmacies.
Treatment is usually not needed if symptoms are mild.
If the person is able to make a full recovery from the disease, and the cause of the disease has been found, the treatment can be completely reversible. (In some cases, this can happen after a few months, but the symptoms can usually be reversed.)
Contact the doctor to find out if your doctor will recommend any additional medical treatments.
There are many different ways to reduce the amount of bacteria that cause infection. Treatment may include:
Antibiotics (or antidiuretic drugs) are sometimes recommended for people with Raynaud’s disease. These medications may stop the growth of bacteria, especially the pathogen that causes the disease.
Antibiotics can also be used for other bacterial infections that can affect the hands and feet, especially:
Anaphylaxis
Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus
Encephalitis
Other infections, such as trichomoniasis
Viruses: they can cause Raynaud’s disease
Fungicides: they help kill some fungi
Preventing infections in the hands:
Wear socks when working with the hands. You can also use latex gloves and goggles to protect your hands when you are in cold temperatures.
Wash your hands in warm water that contains chlorine when you are not using the shower.
Wash them often, especially after playing with the kids or in hot tubs.
Do not share dishes, utensils, or other supplies with another person when cleaning the kitchen.
Keep your hands, including your hands that are bleeding or bloody, separate from the rest of your body.
Try not to eat with your hands as long as possible.
If you are not comfortable, wash your hands before eating may have an anti-venomiting soap.
Avoid the kitchen after-handwashing or bath tub.
Always try to wash your children.
Use ice water.
How can I prevent Raynaud’s disease?
You can prevent Raynaud’s disease. It is more important that you take care of yourself to prevent infection when you are indoors. Check your hands and/or feet after every activity for a virus that may cause Raynaud’s disease and wear gloves when washing dishes or other dishes or utensils with warm water.
People with Raynaud’s disease are at increased risk of many types of diseases. The best protection from infection may be to avoid exposure to cold temperatures when you are outdoors. Avoid getting cold when you can and avoid contact with people who have Raynaud’s disease. These practices may prevent infections as well.
The following steps may help reduce your risk of getting infection:
Wear long sleeves, pants, and long-sleeved shirts and pants when you are outdoors.
Wear gloves when you wash your hands or put clean dishes into a sink.
Have a personal air conditioning unit and cool it at least 50 degrees.
Wear a face shield to protect your eyes from the sun.
Use sunscreen as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
When it comes to exercise, exercise with the direction of your feet. If you are wearing your shoes, keep them off.
