Is There a Method of Treating Raynaud's Syndrome?

Is There a Method of Treating Raynaud's Syndrome?

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QUESTION: I suffer from Raynaud's Syndrome and am constantly on the lookout
for any new method of treating this most annoying and frustrating condition.
A friend told me of reading about a method that trains the body to respond to
cold without causing the problems in the hands. Do you know anything about
this, and would you explain it to me?
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ANSWER: Dealing with the problems caused by Raynaud's Syndrome can indeed be
frustrating, for this condition causes the smallest arteries of the fingers
(arterioles) to constrict when exposed to colder temperatures, resulting in
extreme reduction of blood flow to the digits, followed by redness and pain
when circulation is restored. Women are affected more frequently than men,
and the medical treatment may leave a good deal to be desired. A new method
of behavioral conditioning, which your friend read about, consists of counter
conditioning the body to cold by exposing the whole body to 0 degrees C air,
while keeping the fingers immersed in warm water at 43 degrees C. This is
done repeatedly, and in many cases a higher skin temperature than previously
noted is found when the patient is exposed to cold temperatures. Many
patients report less problems and feel that the improvement has lasted long
after the conditioning training has been completed. Since there are many
possible causes for the syndrome, a complete and accurate diagnosis is
necessary to assure your condition is suitable for such training, and your
physicians counseling is a must. Of course smoking is a "no-no," as nicotine
is a potent constrictor of blood vessels. However the technique, which has
now been adapted for home training, offers real promise of improvement, and
should be given a thorough opportunity to work for you.