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Raynaud’s syndrome is a disorder that affects the blood vessels in the fingers, toes, ears, nose and other parts of the body. People who have Raynaud’s Syndrome (sometimes incorrectly called “Raynard’s Syndrome”) suffer episodic attacks, called vasospastic attacks, that cause the blood vessels in the fingers and toes to tighten or “constrict”.

Raynaud’s syndrome can occur on its own (primary), or it can be secondary to another condition such as scleroderma or lupus.

Recent surveys show that Raynaud’s syndrome may affect 5 to 10 percent of the general population in the United States. Women are more likely than men to have the disorder. Raynaud’s syndrome — or perhaps we should say, its symptoms — appear to be more common in people who live in colder climates. Statistics show, however, that people with the disorder who live in milder climates may experience more attacks during periods of colder weather. This indicates that cold weather is a contributing factor to attacks of Reynaud’s (Raynard’s) syndrome.

This is logical, as lower temperatures cause matter to shrink or constrict, so body parts that are exposed to colder temperatures tend to constrict, particularly blood vessels of people who are vulnerable to vasoconstriction.

How Does Cold Weather Bring On an Attack?

For most people, an attack is usually triggered by exposure to cold temperatures or to emotional stress. Let’s talk about the effect of cold temperatures first.

Reduced Blood Supply to the Extremities

When ambient temperature dips, the body’s normal response is to move blood from the arteries closer to the surface of the skin to those closer to the body’s core — deep within the body’s centre. In the case of those who have Raynaud syndrome, what would otherwise be a normal body response is exaggerated because of the sudden spasmodic contractions of the small blood vessels (arterioles) that supply blood closer to the body’s skin surface. Not only do these blood vessels constrict — in some cases, they may even collapse. As a result, the blood supply to the extremities is greatly decreased, causing a reaction that includes skin discoloration and other changes.

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