It’s cold and all of a sudden your fingers turn whitish-yellow, become numb, tingling and painful? What is commonly referred to as corpse finger or white finger disease is actually Raynaud’s syndrome. These are vascular spasms, so-called vasospasms, which are caused by the cold stimulus but also by stress and lead to severe circulatory problems.
The most common symptoms of white finger disease
The syndrome was named after the doctor Maurice Raynaud, who discovered the phenomenon in the 19th century. Symptoms most often appear on the fingers, but can also affect the toes and other parts of the body such as the nose, ears and tip of the tongue. They last for a few minutes but in extreme cases up to an hour. The most common symptoms include:
white, ice-cold fingers or toes numbness stabbing pain a three-stage color gradient from white to blue to red, called the tricolor phenomenon
Primary or secondary Raynaud’s syndrome – the causes
According to the German Society for Angiology – Society for Vascular Medicine (DGA), up to 20 percent of the population in Germany is affected by Raynaud’s syndrome. So quite a few. Doctors differentiate between the
primary Raynaud’s syndrome and the
secondary Raynaud’s syndrome.
In primary Raynaud’s syndrome , which is the most common, is an initial illness that is considered relatively harmless and does not require any specific treatment. It is not exactly known what causes the primary syndrome; genetic factors probably play a role. Women are affected more often than men. Symptoms usually appear before the age of 40. And symmetrically on both hands – but not on the thumbs. In addition to cold, stress can also trigger the symptoms.
The secondary Raynaud’s syndrome On the other hand, it usually occurs as a result of an underlying disease. These include autoimmune diseases such as
rheumatoide Arthritis
Collagen (inflammatory processes of connective tissue in various areas of the body)
Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels)
Neurological diseases, side effects of medications such as beta blockers and drug abuse can also be behind it. Just like external influences such as blows to the hands and vibrations, for example from working with machines. The secondary syndrome occurs much less frequently, accounting for around ten percent of cases, but in the worst case it can lead to severe tissue damage – even necrosis, in which the tissue is destroyed.
If you have symptoms of white finger disease, be sure to see a doctor
To clarify which form you are suffering from and to prevent consequential damage, the only thing that helps is a visit to the doctor. This clarifies whether underlying diseases are present based on the patient conversation, the symptoms and various laboratory and vascular tests. If all laboratory values are normal, it is probably a primary form.
In the secondary form, the underlying disease that leads to the symptoms is usually treated. In severe cases, when wounds occur or tissue dies, according to the DGA, medications that dilate the blood vessels and lower blood pressure (calcium antagonists) are used. However, they can lead to undesirable side effects such as a severe drop in blood pressure, headaches and rapid heartbeat.
Tips for those affected – this is how you can minimize the risk of seizures
Anyone suffering from Raynaud’s syndrome can minimize the occurrence of symptoms with a few tips. The DGA recommends:
Keep fingers and toes warm: Wear gloves at temperatures below ten degrees. Mittens are best. Wear warm, breathable socks and shoes.
Wear gloves when doing housework: Cold water when washing dishes or cleaning can also trigger Raynaud’s symptoms.
Fingertraining: Regular finger training, for example with grip trainers, can improve blood circulation in the finger muscles.
Relaxation exercises: Raynaud’s syndrome can also be caused by stress, as this has a negative effect on the blood vessels. That’s why relaxation techniques such as autogenic training and yoga can help.
Avoid smoking! Because smoking narrows the blood vessels and increases blood pressure.