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Treating Patients with Raynaud’s

If you are seeing a patient with primary Raynaud’s there aren’t any major changes that you need to change to your normal practice. These simple tips however, will ensure comfort and are aimed at avoiding a Raynaud’s attack:

1 Ensure your clinic is warm ahead of the

appointment – it can feel around 5 degrees colder for someone with Raynaud’s

2 Warm up your hands before touching the

patient’s feet – applying cold hands to warm feet can cause an instant Raynaud’s attack

3 Ensure creams are warm before application

– this may mean warming the tube or a small amount in your hands before applying. Don’t let the feet become cold once applied. Use a warm towel or let the patient put socks on immediately after application. 4 Massage the feet – a massage will not only help to relieve stress but can also encourage blood flow to the affected area.

Referring a patient with Raynaud’s

If you identify primary Raynaud’s in a patient, we would encourage you to speak to them about the condition and advise them to make an appointment with their GP to receive a formal diagnosis. If you are concerned that a patient is showing signs of secondary Raynaud’s, please speak to them about Raynaud’s and advice them to make an appointment with their GP. Advise them to ask their GP for an ANA blood test and a capillaroscopy.

Self-Management advice for patients

The following advice is recommended for both primary and secondary Raynaud’s.

• Keep your whole body warm, especially your hands and feet. Wear gloves and warm footwear in cold weather. On colder days, if you are going out consider warming up your socks, shoes and / or gloves on the radiator for 10 minutes or so prior to putting them on

• If you smoke, stop. Quitting smoking will improve your circulation, which should help to improve symptoms.

• Exercise regularly, as this helps to improve your circulation and reduce stress levels. For most people, 150 minutes of physical activity a week (spread over 5 days) is recommended.

• Try to minimise your stress levels. Regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or activities such as yoga, can help. • Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea and sugary drinks.

Chelsea was diagnosed with Raynaud’s five years ago, Nowadays when I have an attack my feet will go blue straight away. I used to get the white colouration and this used to be a really prominent feature but nowadays, as my condition has become more severe, they go straight to blue. ‘‘ ‘‘

During February, Raynaud’s Awareness Month, Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) have launched the #KnowRaynauds campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the condition.

Sue Farrington, SRUK CE explains, “Research we have undertaken over the last year reveals that only 4% are able to identify the symptoms of Raynaud’s. SRUK is tackling this lack of understanding by getting everyone to #KnowRaynauds during February”.

Order your free Raynaud’s Information pack today.

Simply email gettoknow@sruk.co.uk

with your Name, Practice and Postal Address.