What Causes Raynaud's Disease?

Smoking

Smoking negatively impacts blood circulation throughout the body, but having cold and rigid hands is also seen regularly by physicians and researchers. When you smoke, substances from the tobacco cause the blood vessels to constrict, which alters circulation and prevents blood from moving throughout the body in the way it should, and the extremities (the hands, fingers, feet, and toes) are the first ones to suffer from this. Quitting immediately has been shown to greatly reduce symptoms in individuals with Raynaud's disease.

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Medication

While medication has always been designed to treat ailments, there are few (if any) that come without potential side effects for other areas of the body. Those that disrupt proper circulation can all lead to the development of Raynaud's disease, including beta blockers, ADHD treatments, treatment for migraines, chemotherapy, and many over-the-counter remedies for flu and the common cold. Substances that treat high blood pressure also leave the body susceptible, as do any that slow and lower the heart rate. Each of these affects the blood vessels and circulation and, again, the extremities are the first to suffer.

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