For an estimated 5-10 percent of the population, the wintertime blues are more than a state of mind.
Cold weather triggers a painful and sometimes debilitating disorder for millions of Americans who suffer from Raynaud's disease (also known as Raynaud's syndrome or phenomenon). Raynaud's is an autoimmune disorder in which spasms in the blood vessels can interrupt blood flow to the fingers, toes, nose and ears. Exposure to cold triggers the spasms, typically causing the affected area to turn white, then blue, then bright red. Emotional stress can also cause an attack.
During an attack, Raynaud's sufferers experience tingling, swelling or painful throbbing. Episodes may last from minutes to hours. In severe cases, the area may develop ulcerations and infections, which -- if left untreated -- can potentially lead to gangrene.
According to the Raynaud's Association (www.raynauds.org), only one out of five sufferers seeks treatment. Both men and women suffer from Raynaud's, but women are nine times more likely to be affected. "Some researchers estimate as many as 20 percent of all women in their childbearing years have Raynaud's," says Lynn Wunderman, chair of the Raynaud's Association.
"Too many Raynaud's sufferers dismiss their symptoms as being due to 'poor circulation,'" Wunderman says. "In a sense that's true, but there's a medical cause for their poor circulation -- and sometimes it can be serious."
In some cases, Raynaud's symptoms may indicate a serious underlying disorder such as scleroderma, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Robert Riggs, CEO of the Scleroderma Foundation (www.scleroderma.org), notes that more than 90 percent of people diagnosed with systemic scleroderma also have Raynaud's. "In most of these cases, Raynaud's is the first symptom."