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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffRaynaud's is a condition that you may need to manage for life once it develops. But there are ways to help prevent attacks:
- Dress warmly outdoors. In winter, wear a hat, scarf, socks and boots, and mittens or gloves under mittens when you go outside. Put them on before you go outside. A hat is important because you lose a great deal of body heat through your head. Wear a coat with fairly snug cuffs to go around your mittens or gloves, to prevent cold air from reaching your hands. Wear earmuffs and a face mask if the tip of your nose and your earlobes are sensitive to cold. Run your car heater for a few minutes before driving in cold weather.
- Take precautions indoors. Wear socks. When taking food out of the refrigerator or freezer, wear gloves, mittens or oven mitts. Some people find it helpful to wear mittens and socks to bed during winter. Because air conditioning can trigger attacks, setting your air conditioner to a warmer temperature may help prevent attacks. You may also find it helpful to use insulated drinking glasses.
- Consider moving to a location with a milder climate. Moving to a warmer climate may help people with severe Raynaud's. However, Raynaud's can occur even in warmer climates when the temperature decreases.
References
- Questions and answers about Raynaud's phenomenon. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Raynauds_Phenomenon/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 2, 2009.
- Raynaud's. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/raynaud/ray_what.html. Accessed Aug. 2, 2009.
- Smith EA, et al. Systemic sclerosis: Raynaud's phenomenon. In: Hochberg MC, et al. Rheumatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008:1387.
- Wigley FM. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of the Raynaud phenomenon. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 2, 2009.
- Wigley FM. Nonpharmacologic therapy for the Raynaud phenomenon. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 2, 2009.
- Wigley FM. Pharmacologic and surgical treatment of the Raynaud phenomenon. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 2, 2009.
- Patel PM. Raynaud's Phenomenon. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/152762796-4/0/1701/499.html?tocnode=56571810&fromURL=499.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50021-5--subchapter4_10581. Accessed Aug. 2, 2009.
