As February marks Raynaud’s Awareness Month, we spoke with Sara Hussain from the fundraising team at The Scleroderma and Raynaud's Charity to learn more about the condition and how it affects those living with it. SRUK is a leading UK charity dedicated to supporting people with Raynaud’s and related conditions, as well as funding vital research. Sara shared valuable insight into who is most at risk, practical advice for those who have been recently diagnosed, and ways to stay warm, including what thermal accessories can make the biggest difference.
Can you briefly describe Raynaud’s and how it affects everyday life?
Raynaud’s is a common condition in which blood flow becomes heavily restricted during cold temperatures, most commonly in the hands and feet. Common symptoms include: cold fingers and toes, colour changes in your skin (often from white, to blue, to red), numbness, tingling, and pain. When severe, Raynaud’s can even make performing daily tasks, such as writing or texting, difficult.
What are some common misconceptions about the condition?
Raynaud’s is often thought to be a rare condition. In reality, Raynaud’s phenomenon affects over 10 million people in the UK, making it far more common than many people realise. It is also sometimes misunderstood as simply having cold hands, but Raynaud’s involves changes in blood flow that can cause colour changes and discomfort. For many people, symptoms are mild and can be managed with simple lifestyle adjustments.
How can cold weather affect Raynaud’s?
Cold weather can exacerbate symptoms of Raynaud’s and cause a Raynaud’s attack. During cold weather, our body’s natural response to retain warmth is for some of our blood vessels to narrow. This reaction is exaggerated for people living with Raynaud’s, resulting in the skin changing colour. The fingers and toes may change from white to blue, and then to red. This can be uncomfortable, and for some people, painful.
Symptoms can also be triggered by everyday situations, such as walking through a chilled supermarket aisle or reaching into a freezer. Being aware of these triggers and planning ahead can help people manage their symptoms more effectively.
Who is most at risk of getting Raynaud’s?
Primary Raynaud’s is more common in young women and girls, although the condition can affect men, women, and children of any age. Raynaud’s is also relatively common in teenagers and often first appears around puberty.
What advice would you give to someone who has recently been diagnosed with the condition?
Raynaud’s is very common and, for many people, it is a mild condition. It affects over 10 million people in the UK, and many manage their symptoms well with simple lifestyle measures.
There are two types of Raynaud’s: primary and secondary. In primary Raynaud’s, the condition occurs on its own and is not linked to another health issue. In secondary Raynaud’s, Raynaud’s symptoms are caused by an underlying condition that affects how the blood vessels respond.
Avoiding common triggers where possible can help reduce symptoms. These include exposure to cold and emotional stress. Keeping warm, taking good care of your skin, and stopping smoking can all play an important role in managing Raynaud’s, whatever the type.
Please can you explain how staying warm can help to manage the condition?
Staying warm helps manage Raynaud’s by reducing how often blood vessels narrow in response to cold. When the body is kept warm, blood flow to the fingers and toes is less likely to be restricted, which can help prevent or lessen Raynaud’s attacks.
Here are some practical tips on how to stay warm:
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature whenever possible.
- Keep your body, especially your hands and feet, warm. Aim for a level of warmth that might feel slightly uncomfortable, like the point where you would normally take off a layer.
- Dress in thin, loose layers for maximum warmth and flexibility. You can remove layers if you get too hot or add more if it’s chilly.
- Wear gloves and long, warm socks when it’s cold.
- Try hand-warmers or thermal insoles for extra protection. By keeping warm, you can help reduce the frequency and severity of Raynaud’s attacks and make day-to-day activities more comfortable.
Explore our Raynaud’s Socks collection, and make sure you get wrapped up with our Thermal Hats and Gloves. Enjoy mix and matching your accessories with our Bundle Deals.
