What causes Raynaud’s?

Raynaud’s can have a few different causes or triggers and depends on if the Raynaud’s is primary or secondary.

a hand holding a large chunk of clear ice

Primary Raynaud’s

Primary Raynaud’s occurs by itself, and is not associated with any other health issues. It is believed to affect 10% of the population. We don’t know what causes primary Raynaud’s. The medical term for an unknown cause is idiopathic.

What we do know is that the attacks themselves can be triggered by changes in temperature, emotional changes, stress, hormones or in some cases by using certain vibrating tools.

There is evidence that primary Raynaud’s may sometimes be an inherited condition, since multiple cases can arise within the same family with some studies showing the up to 50% of those with primary Raynaud’s have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) who also has the condition. Raynaud’s is not contagious and cannot be passed on to others.

A recent study found that a variation in two genes increased the likelihood of a person developing the condition.

the alpha-2A-adrenergic receptor for adrenaline, ADRA2A, a classic stress receptor that causes the small blood vessels to contract
The IRX1 gene, which is thought to regulate the ability of blood vessels to contract.

The next step is to confirm these important findings in more diverse population groups and validate the results through functional studies.

Secondary Raynaud’s

Secondary Raynaud’s occurs because of another medical condition. It can also be caused by certain medications. This type of Raynaud’s is less common, accounting for 10 % of people with Raynaud’s.

Most cases of secondary Raynaud’s are linked to autoimmune diseases, meaning that the immune system is overactive, causing it to attack healthy tissues within the body.

Scleroderma is one example of an autoimmune condition that is known to be associated with secondary Raynaud’s, however there are a number of other possibilities, including:

Other autoimmune conditions:

rheumatoid arthritis – which causes joint pain and swelling
Sjogren’s syndrome – where the immune system affects the body’s sweat and tear glands
lupus – which causes tiredness, joint pain and skin rashes
dermatomyositis and polymyositis – inflammation of the muscles

Vascular conditions:

Atherosclerosis – meaning the build-up of plaques within the blood vessels that feed the heart
Buerger’s disease – a disorder whereby the blood vessels of the hands and feet become inflamed
Primary pulmonary hypertension – a type of high blood pressure that can also be linked to Raynaud’s

Neurological conditions:

Carpal tunnel syndrome – which involves pressure upon a major nerve to the hand (the median nerve). This causes numbness and pain, which may then make the hand more susceptible to cold temperatures and episodes of Raynaud’s

Medications:

Certain medications including beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure, migraine medications containing ergotamine or sumatriptan, medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, certain chemotherapy agents and other drugs that cause blood vessels to narrow have also been linked to Raynaud’s

Injury:

Injuries to the hands or feet, such as a wrist fracture, surgery or frostbite can all lead to Raynaud’s phenomenon

Vibration:

Repetitive action or vibration, which may arise from typing, playing the piano or doing similar movements for long periods of time
Using vibrating tools such as jackhammers is also known to increase the risk of developing Raynaud’s

Learn more about Raynaud's

Raynaud's presenting in three fingers on a woman's hand

What is Raynaud’s?

When we are exposed to the cold blood vessels become narrower. When someone has Raynaud's, the narrowing of the blood vessels is more extreme.

Link between Raynaud’s and Scleroderma

Find out how Raynaud’s and scleroderma are associated

gloved hands holding hands with blue fingers from a Raynaud's attack

Signs & symptoms of Raynaud’s

The fingers and toes may change from white to blue, and then to red. A Raynaud's attack can be very painful, especially as the circulation returns.

FAQs about Raynaud’s

Find answers to frequently asked questions about Raynaud’s