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Individuals dealing with a prevalent winter ailment might find relief by consulting their doctor about a treatment designed to alleviate a distressing condition that can cause fingers and toes to turn “blue.”
In a recent episode of her health and lifestyle podcast, TV host Cherry Healey addressed a listener’s query alongside Dr. Amir Khan from ITV. The listener expressed: “I have Raynaud’s, and winter is particularly harsh. My hands and feet transition from purple to white and are excruciatingly painful.”
Cherry empathized, revealing she also suffers from the same issue during colder months. Her co-host, who has a medical background, highlighted that some home remedies could alleviate the symptoms, yet some individuals might consider speaking with their doctor about medicinal options.
He advised: “Doctors can prescribe medication for regular use. During winter, you might consider medication that helps relax blood vessels, similar to what they prescribe for high blood pressure.”
Often seen on ITV shows like Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, the doctor explained that this medication helps “open up” blood vessels that constrict due to Raynaud’s.
According to the NHS website, one such medication is nifedipine, which is also utilized to mitigate risks of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Nifedipine is only available on prescription and typically comes as tablets or capsules. It is also available as a liquid or in drops to be swallowed.
Most adults aged 18 and over can take nifedipine and it is occasionally prescribed for children. However, not all people in the UK can take this drug.
Doctors may not prescribe this medication if any of the following apply to the patient:
- Have ever had an allergic reaction to nifedipine or any other medicine
- Have liver disease
- Have any heart problems (other than high blood pressure), including a recent heart attack, heart failure or unstable angina
- Have diabetes
People taking this medication will be urged to cut grapefruit (and its juice) from their diet. This is because grapefruit can increase the amount of nifedipine in your body, and cause side effects such as headache, flushing and feeling dizzy or faint.
What is Raynaud’s?
According to the NHS, the phenomenon causes people to experience a loss of blood flow to the fingers and toes. This can cause the skin to lose its natural colouration, which is usually achieved by a healthy flow of blood through our bodily systems.
Sometimes, the skin turns white, purple or blue as blood vessels ‘overreact’ to the cold weather conditions. The symptoms of Raynaud’s may last from a few minutes to a few hours.
The specialists claim that the trigger for this is usually the result of cold temperatures. However, cases have been reported where anxiety or stress also leads to Raynaud’s.
The website claims: “It’s common and does not usually cause severe problems. You can often treat the symptoms yourself by keeping warm.” Seek medical help if:
- You have symptoms of Raynaud’s that are very bad or getting worse
- Raynaud’s is affecting your daily life
- Your symptoms are only on 1 side of your body
- You also have joint pain, skin rashes or muscle weakness
- You’re over 30 years old and get symptoms of Raynaud’s for the first time
- Your child is under 12 years old and has symptoms of Raynaud’s
