Seek help if you suffer

Figures published by SRUK show that millions of adults in the UK don’t know any of the signs of Raynaud’s – while millions of others are likely to dismiss symptoms.

From a survey of more than 2000 people, SRUK found that in Scotland:

■ Nearly half of those surveyed could not name any of the signs of Raynaud’s (49 per cent)

■ Only around one in three (35 per cent) correctly identified extremely cold fingers and toes as a sign of Raynaud’s and one in four (26 per cent) knew about colour changes in the skin. These are both common signs of Raynaud’s.

Around one in four survey respondents from Scotland reported having extremely cold fingers or toes more than once (24 per cent) and nearly a fifth (19 per cent) said they have experienced frequent colour changes in their skin in response to cold temperatures or stressful situations.

However, nearly one in two (47 per cent) of those surveyed from Scotland said they would not visit their GP if they experienced extremely cold fingers or toes regularly.

Likewise, more than four in 10 (43 per cent) would not see their GP about frequent colour changes in the skin.

Almost three in four (73 per cent) of those surveyed from Scotland admitted they would be worried by a Raynaud’s diagnosis because they do not know enough about the condition or how to deal with it.

Around one in six people in the UK are thought to be living with Raynaud’s, but SRUK’S data suggests roughly one in two UK adults – about 24 million people – would not see their GP even if they experienced the most common symptoms frequently. The charity warns this could mean many people are living with Raynaud’s but not getting the support they need to manage the condition.

Sue Farrington, SRUK chief executive, said:“raynaud’s is as common as hay fever or arthritis and can have just as big an impact on daily life, if not more so, but these figures highlight just how woefully unaware most of us are.

“Raynaud’s itself is not life-threatening, but it can be very painful and have a huge impact on everyday life; during an attack, simple things like buttoning a coat, turning a key in a front door or handling bank cards can become virtually impossible.

“It may also be a sign of something more serious, so it is vital that people know the signs and visit their GP.”

For around 300,000 people, Raynaud’s could also be a sign of a serious underlying condition. Early detection is vital to manage symptoms, prevent attacks and diagnose any underlying illnesses.