I have a medical condition in my hand where four of my fingers do not
have any circulation.  When my hands get cold they turn white and I
can't warm them. They are also quite numb. One finger on the same hand
is fine.  My wife was in
to see the doctor the other day and I asked him about it.  He just
quickly said my condition is called ray nods or ray noids.  Something
like that.  He wouldn't tell me more unless I made an appointment. 
Would you have any idea what this condition is all about?

Hello Taushie,

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers
are general information, and are not intended to substitute informed
professional medical advice.


According to the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES the
medical condition you are referring to is Raynaud's Phenomenon.

“Raynaud's Phenomenon is a Disorder of the small blood vessels that
feed the skin. During an attack of Raynaud's, these arteries contract
briefly, limiting blood flow. This is called a vasospasm. Deprived of
the blood's oxygen, the skin first turns white then blue. The skin
turns red as the arteries relax and blood flows again.
Extremities--hands and feet--are most commonly affected, but Raynaud's
can attack other areas such as the nose and ears.”


These are the symptoms:

“Symptoms include changes in skin color (white to blue to red) and
skin temperature (the affected area feels cooler). Usually there is no
pain, but it is common for the affected area to feel numb or prickly,
as if it has fallen asleep.”

Causes:

“Doctors do not completely understand the cause of Raynaud's, but they
believe the body's blood vessels overreact to cold. When the body is
exposed to cold, the hands and feet lose heat rapidly. To conserve
heat, the body reduces the amount of blood flowing to these areas by
narrowing the small arteries that supply them with blood. In persons
with Raynaud's, these small blood vessels overrespond to cold. For
example, reaching into a refrigerator may trigger an attack.”

(..)

“Women between the ages of 15 and 50 are most often affected, but
anyone can have the problem. It is not known for sure how many people
suffer from these symptoms, but Raynaud's is a common problem.”

Source: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/blood/other/raynaud.htm#what


To get a better understanding of this medical condition I highly
recommend that you read the Questions and Answers about Raynaud's
Phenomenon at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases website where they answer in detail the following
questions.

What Is Raynaud's Phenomenon? 
What Happens During an Attack? 
How Is Raynaud's Phenomenon Classified? 
How Does a Doctor Diagnose Raynaud's Phenomenon? 
What Is the Treatment for Raynaud's Phenomenon? 
What Research Is Being Conducted To Help People Who Have Raynaud's
Phenomenon

This is the direct link to the above information:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/raynaud/ar125fs.htm


Search Criteria:
Raynaud's
Raynaud's Phenomenon

 
Thank you for your question and I hope this response has provided you
with the information you were seeking. If anything I have written is
not clear, please post a request for Answer Clarification before
rating my answer and I will do my best to meet your needs.

Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 17 Jan 2003 07:45 PST

This is the direct link to the results of my search on Google where
you will find a wealth of additional information that may interest
you.
://www.google.com/search?q=Raynaud%27s+phenomenon&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

As a fellow sufferer of Raynaud's (pronounced "ray-NOSE"), allow me to
suggest these additional resources (after the one above which is at
the top of my list) that I have collected for my own use:
 http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/926055412.html
 http://www.aarda.org/page38.html
 http://www.sclero.org/medical/symptoms/raynauds/patient-orgs.html
 http://members.aol.com/raynauds/