It’s not even that cold yet, but Janneke (38) still suffers from it now and then. “A part of a finger is suddenly completely white, as if the blood has suddenly been drawn from that finger. Usually I suffer from this in the winter, when it is cold outside, but this year it starts early. I find it scary In addition, the finger hurts and starts to tingle when it turns white.”
Janneke not only suffers from white-streaked fingers, but also sometimes from toes from which the blood seems to have drained. “Exactly the same story here too. What’s going on here? Should I be concerned and how can I prevent this?”
General practitioner Marnix van der Leest knows what is bothering Janneke. “This is called Raynaud’s syndrome, also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon. It is a result of blood vessels in the fingers or toes that suddenly contract. This does indeed temporarily reduce the flow of blood through the fingers and toes.”
It is a well-known ailment according to the GP, which many people suffer from and about which many ask the GP at some point. “Usually, fingers or toes first turn white, then blue-purple and after a while they turn red. When they turn red, the feeling comes back in your fingers and toes and then they often start to glow and tingle. Raynaud’s phenomenon elicited by cold, but sometimes also by emotional stress such as fear.”
In rarer cases, Raynaud’s phenomenon can be a result of thyroid problems, rheumatism, chemotherapy or taking certain types of drugs such as blood pressure lowers or drugs for anxiety and depression. Van der Leest: “The complaints can also be caused by smoking, so another good reason to stop.”
According to the doctor, Janneke does not have to worry. “Many people suffer from this and it is very rare that it is due to a serious illness. It is almost always Raynaud’s phenomenon, and besides that it can sometimes cause really annoying complaints, you don’t have to worry about it to make.”
Pre-warmed gloves
According to Van der Leest, you can prevent the symptoms by simply avoiding getting cold hands and feet. “Avoiding cold and moisture, in addition to wearing gloves and warm clothing, is the first step. Pre-warmed gloves can also be very nice if regular gloves don’t help. Some people swear by silver gloves or silver socks, but there is no evidence that they actually work. “In addition to these options, some people take medication for more serious complaints. Certain blood pressure lowers can help, but can also have side effects.”
Rubriek: Asking for a friend
In this weekly column Asking for a friend we submit reader questions about health to one of our experts. Do you also have a pressing health question for a general practitioner, obstetrician, dietician, psychologist or other health expert? Mail it to [email protected] and maybe you’ll see the answer appear here soon.