Dr Punam Krishan advises One-Minute Test for Raynaud’s

Dr Punam Krishan has urged people to pay heed to symptoms that could mean they have Raynaud’s. As the weather gets worse, she emphasised the need for vigilance.

She encouraged people to take a one-minute online test to determine whether they might be among the 10 million people in the UK affected by Raynaud’s disease.

Health charity Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) is calling on the public to #BePartOfTheAnswer as it launches a first-of-its-kind ‘citizen science’ study on Raynaud’s and related auto-immune conditions.

Dr Krishan is an NHS GP, BBC Morning Live resident doctor, and author who supports the SRUK campaign.

The underlying cause of Raynaud’s remains unclear, and SRUK wishes to change this.

Knowing the underlying cause will then allow exploration and development of a targeted treatment.

The condition often impacts the hands and feet but can also be found in the ears, nose, lips and nipples.

Dr Krishan said: “It’s a serious chronic condition that affects your blood circulation.

“And it’s where blood vessels that are closest, nearest to the surface of your skin are affected.

“They can go into spasms, and as you can imagine, if they’re spasming, they’re causing narrowing and restriction of blood flow to that area.

“So it can cause some really debilitating symptoms.”

The reminder to check for symptoms comes as cold weather is one factor that can trigger Raynaud’s flare-up.

Thus, many may feel the signs and symptoms more intensely during the UK winter.

Dr Krishan asserted that Raynaud’s is also triggered by “high emotional stress levels” and is more commonly found in women.

What can help with Raynaud’s?

Several actions can be taken if you have Raynaud’s as advised by the NHS and doctors:

• Keep the home warm
• Use a hot water bottle and hand warmers
• Wear warm clothes during cold weather and ensure you keep your hands and feet well-covered
• Attempt to avoid sudden changes in temperature
• Exercise regularly as this aids in improving circulation
• Try breathing exercises or yoga to help you relax
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet

Moreover, the NHS recommend that those with Raynaud’s “do not smoke” as this will improve circulation.

Health experts stress avoiding too much caffeine as it can trigger symptoms. Tea, coffee, chocolate, and cola contain caffeine.

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When to see a GP?

The NHS stress the need to see a GP if any of the following occurs:

• Symptoms are “very bad or getting worse”
• If the condition is affecting your daily life
• The symptoms are only on one side of the body
• There is also joint pain, skin rashes or muscle weakness
• You are over 30 years old and get symptoms of Raynaud’s for the first time
• Your child is under 12 years old and has symptoms

Razia, who has had Raynaud’s for over a decade, told DESIblitz:

“I have other health conditions. Raynaud’s can make them worse, and they make it worse.”

“All I can do is try to manage it. So, I try to eat things to help my circulation and keep my feet and hands warm.

“I don’t always realise when they’re getting too cold and have to be careful.”

After the one-minute test, those who may have Raynaud’s will be invited to complete a short, anonymous medical survey.

They will also be asked to pre-register to download SRUK’s symptom tracker app, which will launch in early 2025.

SRUK will use the data to support scientific research into the condition and related autoimmune conditions. Currently, very little is known.

Researchers hope that if a minimum of 10,000 people participate, they will be able to help potential breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment for Raynaud’s.

In addition to making breakthroughs with other debilitating autoimmune conditions like scleroderma, lupus, and vasculitis.