22 February 2023
February is Raynaud’s Awareness Month.
Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition that affects the blood supply to certain parts of the body – usually the fingers or toes. It causes the affected area to change colour and you may experience numbness, pain, and pins and needles. It can be triggered by cold weather, anxiety or stress.
This Raynaud’s Awareness month we are giving you some tips to help manage the symptoms of Raynaud’s in the cold weather:
- If you smoke, stop smoking – this will improve your circulation which should help your symptoms. For more help quitting smoking, you can contact the NHS Borders Health Improvement Team here.
- Keep your whole body warm, especially your hands and feet. Wear gloves and warm footwear in cold weather. If you are struggling to keep your home warm, support is available here.
- Do regular exercise – this will improve your circulation and help manage stress levels.
- Eat a balanced diet – If you want tips on eating a balanced diet visit NHS Borders Health Improvement Food and Health page.
Dr Lynn McCallum, Medical Director at NHS Borders said: “Raynaud’s can be a very uncomfortable condition, but there are a few lifestyle changes you can make to ease your symptoms. These changes can have a positive effect on your overall mental and physical health in addition to improving circulation.”
For more information visit: Raynaud's phenomenon - Illnesses & conditions | NHS inform