What Is Raynaud's Disease?

By dr. mera

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. Fava, A., & Boin, F. (1970, January 01). Historical Perspective of Raynaud's Phenomenon. Retrieved September 02, 2020, from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4939-1526-2_1
• 2. Hansen-Dispenza, H., MD. (2019, November 02). Raynaud Phenomenon: Practice Essentials,Pathophysiology, Etiology. Retrieved 2020, from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/331197-overview#a5
• 3. Goudry, B., Bell, L., Langtree, M., & Moorthy, A. (2012). Diagnosis and management of Raynaud’s phenomenon. BMJ, 344, 37-42. doi:10.1136/bmj.e289

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5. Risk Factors

A risk factor is a characteristic, condition, or behavior that increases a person’s chances of developing a disease. It demonstrates a connection between a factor with a given condition, but it does not necessarily prove causation. Primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon may seem like the same condition, but they are not. They even have different risk factors. For primary Raynaud’s phenomenon, these include sex, age, climate, and family history. As previously mentioned, women are more likely to have this condition than men, and it will typically appear between the ages of fifteen and thirty. Also, if a parent, child, or sibling of a person exhibits this phenomenon, it increases their risk of primary Raynaud’s. Finally, living in a cold climate can trigger primary Raynaud. In fact, the disorder is more common in cold climates.

As previously mentioned, secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon is commonly associated with other diseases. Similarly, having any of these diseases is a risk factor for developing secondary Raynaud’s. Furthermore, some occupations can also be a risk factor for this condition. For example, jobs that involve the operation of tools that vibrate (i.e. jackhammers, sanders) can cause repetitive trauma to tissues of the hand, increasing the worker’s risk. Work environments that involve cold exposure or sudden temperature changes can also trigger episodes. Exposure to certain substances like polyvinyl chloride or solvents also predisposes workers. Finally, smoking and certain medications can predispose people to the phenomenon or even aggravate it.