Managing your Raynaud’s symptoms
Find out some information on how to help manage your Raynaud’s symptoms
Your GP can advise whether you have Raynaud’s. If you have symptoms, it’s always worth getting things checked out. That’s because your GP can give you advice on managing the condition, and help you find out if there could be an underlying cause.
When you go to see your GP, they will examine the affected area. They’ll also ask some questions, which may include:
- are you more sensitive to the cold than others
- do you notice colour changes on your skin
- what are your symptoms
- does someone in your family have Raynaud’s
- do you smoke
- what do you do for work, sport or hobbies
They will consider your overall medical history, because various medical conditions can cause Raynaud’s. So can different medicines.
GP’s can also perform various test to help diagnose, some of these are listed below. Different clinics will have access to different testing methods.
If your GP is unsure whether it’s Raynaud’s, or if they suspect an underlying cause, they should refer you to a specialist (usually a rheumatologist) for more tests.
Different diagnosis methods
While Raynaud's is usually diagnosed anecdotally, your GP may suggest further testing
Your GP may place your hands in cold water or cool air to see if you show symptoms of Raynaud’s. The water test shows the temperature response (by thermography) to a cold challenge – one minute immersion of hands in cold water at 15 degrees Celsius.
Blood tests can be used to check for other health conditions that could be causing your symptoms. These tests may include:
- an antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test– to check for an overactive immune system, which is common in people with autoimmune conditions such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
- a full blood count – to check for infection or, much less commonly, a cancer of the blood, such as leukaemia
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate – this test determines the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube. A faster than normal rate may signal an underlying inflammatory or autoimmune disease such as arthritis or lupus
Most blood tests only take a few minutes to complete and are carried out at your GP surgery or local hospital by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (a specialist in taking blood samples).
The healthcare professional who arranges your blood test will tell you whether there are any specific instructions you need to follow before your test. For example, depending on the type of blood test, you may be asked to: avoid eating or drinking anything, apart from water (fasting) for up to 12 hours or to stop taking a certain medication. It is important to follow any instructions you’re given, as this can affect the result of the test, and may mean that it needs to be delayed or carried out again.
A blood test usually involves taking a small sample from a blood vessel in your arm.
Only a small amount of blood is taken during the test so you shouldn’t feel any significant after-effects. However, some people may feel dizzy and even faint during or after the test. If this has happened to you in the past, tell the person carrying out the test so they’re aware and can help you feel more comfortable.
After the test, you may have a small bruise where the needle went in. Bruises can be painful, but are usually harmless and fade over the next few days.
After the blood sample has been taken, it will be put into a bottle and labelled with your name and details. It will then be sent to a laboratory where it will be examined under a microscope or tested with chemicals, depending on what’s being checked.
The results are sent back to the hospital or to your GP. Some test results will be ready on the same day or a few days later, although others may not be available for a few weeks. You’ll be told when your results will be ready and how you will receive them.
Sometimes, receiving results can be stressful and upsetting. If you’re worried about the outcome of a test, you may choose to take a trusted friend or relative with you.
A specialist consultant may do a test called capillaroscopy, where the doctor looks at your fingernails under a microscope. This allows them to see your capillaries, which are the tiniest blood vessels. For autoimmune conditions these can become damaged.
Thermal imaging may also be used to see more information about the circulation. It may be used after the water test to see a more detailed look about the body’s response to the cold.
