Summer’s finally here, and whilst most of us enjoy the warmth, there is no respite from the cold for those with Raynaud’s disease. Simply grabbing a cold drink from the fridge, holding an ice lolly, or entering a shop with the air-con cranked up is enough to trigger an attack.
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For a little known condition, Raynaud’s is extremely common, affecting 10 million people in the UK – making it as prevalent as hay fever. In a Raynaud’s attack, the blood supply to the extremities (usually the fingers and toes) is interrupted in response to changes in temperature and emotional stress – leaving hands and feet with numbness or tingling, and fingers or toes turning white, blue and then red. It can be very uncomfortable, painful, and make everyday tasks like writing or buttoning up a coat difficult. The most common symptoms are colour changes in the skin in response to cold, a numbness, tingling or pain, stinging or throbbing pain upon warming.
So what can you do to help if your partner has Raynaud’s?
Spot the signs
Do they often complain of having cold hands or feet? Watch for colour changes in fingers and toes – most affected areas turn white, then blue and then red
Keep a diary
Encourage your partner to note down when they have an attack. Just as a food diary helps to identify particular dietary allergens, logging attacks can help you both recognise triggers, and therefore control and reduce the risk, e.g. do they always occur at a time of high stress or when doing the weekly shop?
Keep warm
Encourage them to keep warm! Layer up in thin clothes, avoid touching cold items or spending time in areas where temperatures fluctuate as even a slight change in temperature can cause an attack. Supermarkets are renowned for their low temperatures so try ordering online and offer to put the chilled and frozen items away
Relieve Stress
Steer clear of stressful situations as stress and anxiety can bring on an attack. If you notice stress is a trigger, try doing some relaxation techniques with them or offering a massage to relieve tension
Gentle exercise
Encourage your other half to take gentle exercise, or better still, exercise together! Taking exercise boosts circulation, and if you’re outside on a chilly day, keeping active will improve the blood flow to your hands and feet and help you stay warm
Eat well
Eat healthily together. Certain foods like ginger, garlic and spicy food are believed to help so get creative with the menu, whilst trying to maintain a balanced, healthy diet. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol
Stop smoking
If you or your partner are a smoker, now’s the time to quit! Other than the obvious health reasons, smoking damages blood circulation
Treat hard-working hands
All hands need a little TLC, but for Raynaud’s sufferers, even more so! Keep a hand cream handy to prevent any sores or cracks from occurring, and during an attack, help warm them up and boost circulation by rubbing and massaging them
Offer to do things they find difficult
During an attack, offer to do things they may find tricky, e.g. buttoning a jacket, or zipping up a bag. You can also help by taking on tasks to prevent further attacks like walking the dog on a cold day, or taking cold food out of the fridge or freezer
Try a herbal remedy
Your partner will thank you for buying them PADMA CIRCOSAN® (£16.95 / allcures.com). A traditional herbal remedy product based on Tibetan medicine, these capsules have anti-oxidative and circulation-stimulating effects thanks to a combination of active ingredients, including flavonoids, tannins and essential oils.
PADMA CIRCOSAN® is available from all good independent health food stores and pharmacies, and online from allcures.com. RRP £16.95 per 60 caps. Always consult your GP before making any major lifestyle changes.
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