Educational video describing Raynaud's phenomenon.
Raynaud’s phenomenon is a discoloration of the fingers due to vasospasm and decreased circulation of the fingers. This condition causes the fingers to feel numb and cool and become discolored in response to cold temperatures or stress. This typically occurs more in women.
The finger may become white due to lack of blood flow. Then as the vessel dilates in order to keep the blood within the tissues, the fingers become blue. Finally, as the blood flow returns, the fingers become red.
This condition is usually bilateral. There are two types:
1-Raynaud’s disease: it occurs on its own without a cause.
2-Raynaud’s syndrome: it is caused by a connective tissue disorder, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis and scleroderma. Raynaud’s phenomenon is the initial presentation for 70% of patients with scleroderma. If you have a patient with Raynaud’s phenomenon, study them for connective tissue disorders.
Stress and cold
hyper active sympathetic activity
severe vascular constriction of blood vessels
hypoxia
In chronic cases, the nails may become brittle with ridges, with ulcers of the fingers.

Become a friend on facebook:
  / drebraheim  

Follow me on twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/DrEbraheim_UTMC