Definition
Circulatory disorders of the hands and fingers are common. Many people know this; cold hands, pale skin, hands that have fallen asleep, painful tingling in the fingers. All these symptoms can indicate circulatory problems in the hands.
The causes are manifold. Relatively well known is the Raynaud’s syndrome. But also arteriosclerosis, acute vascular occlusion due to thromboses or embolisms, as well as heart disease can cause circulatory disorders in the hands. It is important to search for the corresponding cause and to treat it. Then circulatory disorders in the hands and fingers have a good prognosis.
Causes for circulatory disorders of the hands
Circulatory disorders of the hands can have many causes. One possibility for a circulatory disorder in the hands is Raynaud’s syndrome. This disease is also popularly called white finger disease.
Due to a sudden cramping of the blood vessels, the blood flow to the hands comes to a complete standstill for a short time. Arteriosclerosis can also lead to circulatory problems in the hands, just as an embolism (a blood clot that is further washed away by the bloodstream) can cause acute vascular occlusion. In the context of neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or carpal tunnel syndrome, circulatory disorders can also occur in the hands.
This also applies to drugs, such as the pill or certain chemotherapeutic agents. Smoking always damages the blood vessels. Nicotine consumption can lead to circulatory disorders throughout the body.
Smokers have a significantly increased risk of a heart attack (circulatory disorders of the heart). But the risk of circulatory disorders in the hands is also increased. Mostly these occur in the context of arteriosclerosis.
Independent of arteriosclerosis, Raynaud’s syndrome causes a cramp-like narrowing of the blood vessels (vasospasm). The cause of Raynaud’s syndrome has not yet been fully researched. However, it is known that there are certain triggers for vasospasm.
These include, besides cold and stress, smoking. Raynaud’s syndrome is a typical cause of circulatory disorders of the hands. For unknown reasons, it leads to sudden cramps of the arterial blood vessels (vasospasms) in the fingers and toes.
Possible triggers are: Women are more frequently affected than men. The tricolor phenomenon is typical for Raynaud’s syndrome. The fingers are initially white due to the sudden occlusion of the blood vessels.
In the course of time they turn blue. If the cramping of the blood vessels disappears again, there is a reactive increase in blood flow and the hands appear clearly reddened.
- Cold,
- Psychological stress or
- Hormonal disorders
