Medical Questions » Arteries and Veins Questions » Question No. 81
| Question: | How can I help poor circulation in my hands? They go blue and become painful whenever it gets cold. |
| Answer: | There is a disease known as Raynaud' s phenomenon which is due to spasm of the tiny arteries in your hands in cold weather. The first sign is redness of the fingers and hands which then go white, then blue and become intensely painful. It is obviously more of a problem in cold climates, but many people go skiing and experience the problem for the fitst time.
The hands should be kept warm by mittens or gloves, and if the problem occurs, they can be immersed in warm water. This is often not convenient, so doctors use a number of different drugs that can be taken by mouth to dilate the arteries. Nicotinic acid is the one used traditionally, but more potent medications are available on script in severe cases.
A new and verv successful treatment is the use of a very small amount of ointment on the involved area. This ointment is normally used on the chest to open the heart arteries in angina patients, but works just as well on the hands. |
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