Your Fingers and Toes Changing Color May Indicate a Serious Disease

Sometimes, it feels like we can’t catch a break with healthcare. For example, everyone knows that preventative health is a good thing and that catching problems early on keeps them from becoming something serious. However, if you don’t know what to look out for, you’re quite likely to miss out on troubling symptoms that may be an indication of a major health issue.

For example, do you know why your fingers and toes changing color is a bad thing? You might look down at your extremities and feel like the new shade is no big deal. In reality, though, this might be a symptom of Raynaud’s disease.

What is this disease, though? What can it do to your body, what are the other symptoms, and when should you call your doctor for help? Keep reading to find out!

An introduction to Raynaud’s disease

Raynaud’s disease isn’t exactly a well-known health problem, at least outside of medical circles. Therefore, you need a quick primer on what this disease is all about. Those with Raynaud’s have smaller arteries inside their bodies. That may not sound like a big deal, but the tiny arteries may keep enough blood from getting to the different parts of your body.

That can be bad enough in pretty much any weather…after all, there’s no great season for poor circulation. But having Raynaud’s disease can be particularly difficult in the winter because of the lower temperatures outside. Your body will begin to cool and may not get enough blood to keep you warm, resulting in parts of your body feeling numb.

This can also cause parts of your body to change color, which just happens to be the biggest sign that someone is suffering from Raynaud’s disease. 

RELATED: Surprising Symptoms of Diabetes That Show Up In Your Feet

Fingers and toes changing color are a major symptom

Earlier, we touched on the fact that Raynaud’s disease will constrict blood flow throughout your body because of the smaller arteries. That’s why fingers and toes changing color are such a major symptom of this disease. When the blood has trouble reaching different parts of your body, they are likely to look different, though this process may take time.

For example, those with Raynaud’s disease may see their fingers and toes change to a white color before they change to a blue color. Depending on factors like the specific areas of your body and your skin color, it may take a little longer to notice the color change. Because of that, it’s important to understand what the other symptoms of this disease are.

Other symptoms of Raynaud’s disease

If you have Raynaud’s disease, you may notice very quickly when your skin changes color. But what if you have trouble detecting these changes on your skin, or what if this isn’t the first sign that you have this scary disease? In that case, you need to understand what the other symptoms are and just how significant they can be.

For example, your fingers and toes won’t simply look cold…they’ll feel cold, too. So even if these areas haven’t visibly changed color (or haven’t changed yet), extreme cold in your extremities should be considered a major warning sign, especially if there’s no other explanation for why your body is so cold.

When your body parts are cold, your first instinct will be to warm them up, likely by taking a hot shower or bath. When you do so, pay attention to how your body feels. If you experience either a stinging pain or a kind of prickly pain, then you very likely have Raynaud’s disease.

RELATED: The Most Surprising Signs You Have Breast Cancer

Different types of Raynaud’s

Raynaud’s disease actually comes in two varieties: primary and secondary. The primary form of Raynaud’s is (as the name implies) the most common form that people are diagnosed with. Interestingly, many go undiagnosed because symptoms are mild and often not connected to any other health issue. Therefore, it’s easy for those with this disease to never notice, and it may even go away on its own without any treatment.

The secondary type of Renyaud’s is far less common. Unfortunately, it is usually more severe because the secondary form of the disease is usually linked to other health conditions. Those conditions include autoimmune disease, nerve conditions, and vascular disorders. The secondary form of Raynaud’s will require medical intervention, so it is important to diagnose and treat it as soon as possible.

When should you call your doctor?

Now you know the paradox of Reynaud’s disease: if you have the primary form, it will be mild and will possibly go away on its own without medical help. If you have the secondary form, though, it will be more severe and require medical intervention. How, then, can you know when it’s time to call your doctor?

If your pain is severe or if your fingers and toes change color for a very long time, then you should see your doctor. You should also consult with him if you have major pain, infections, open sores, or experience symptoms on only one side of the body. Finally, those with a history of autoimmune disorders, diabetes, and/or heart disease should contact their doctor at the very first sign of Raynaud’s.

RELATED: The Surprising Dangers of Ignoring a Fungal Toenail Infection