$Unique_ID{BRK01079}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Is There a Hot Water Treatment for Raynaud's Disease?}
$Subject{Raynaud Raynaud's disease treatment treatments Special procedure
procedures Circulatory vein veins artery arteries reaction cold blood vessel
vessels constrict constriction circulation finger fingers toe toes hot water}
$Volume{P-4}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is There a Hot Water Treatment for Raynaud's Disease?


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QUESTION:  I suffer from Raynaud's Disease, and do well enough when I take all
the precautions I have learned.  Recently I heard of a method that used hot
water to get your blood vessels to open up and help overcome the coldness and
numbness in the fingers.  If you know of the method will you please describe
it for me?

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ANSWER:  Some recently published papers talk of the use of hot water in
changing the response to cold in patients with Raynaud's.  Since Raynaud's
disease is an excessive reaction to cold, which causes the vessels to
constrict and diminish the circulation to fingers and toes, a possible method
of treatment is to attempt to change that reaction.  It uses water at 120
degrees F, but two different environments.  First the hands are immersed in
the hot water for from 2 to 5 minutes while you are in a warm room.  Next, the
same procedure is repeated while in a colder area, a basement or outdoors.
Then back to the warm room and repeat once again.  The whole procedure is
repeated 3 to 6 times a day for a total of 50 trials.  Results lasting for
years have been achieved by some patients.  I do, however, advise you to
consult your own physician for advise and further instructions before
embarking on this treatment.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.