Sufferers from Raynaud’s, which affects blood circulation, can now take a one-minute test to get support and advice.
February is Raynaud’s Awareness Month, and Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) – the UK’s only charity dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by Raynaud’s phenomenon – is inviting people who might be affected to take The Test.(sruk.co.uk/testme)
Raynaud’s is not life-threatening, but it can be extremely painful and debilitating and in some cases symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying condition. Almost half of people have heard of Raynaud’s, but very few people can name the symptoms (just 5% in a recent survey). That’s why SRUK is asking people to take The Test online and #knowraynauds to better understand, and manage, their symptoms.
Many people with like Patients Bradley, who first noticed she had Raynaud’s when she was 14 years old, will battle with the condition their whole lives. Patients learnt strategies to cope with Raynaud’s and went on to be a global model and a dancer with Legs & Co, “When I was young, I was scared that I couldn’t carry on doing the things I wanted to do… but I’ve been really lucky in the support I’ve been given offer the years. I have had it nearly all my life and it hasn’t stopped me from reaching my goals”
So, what is Raynaud’s? Raynaud’s is a common, but little understood, condition which affects up to 10 million people in the UK (eight million women and two million men). It’s most likely to start in the 20’s and 30’s, and it affects blood circulation, causing some areas of the body, such as fingers and toes, to feel numb or freezing cold in response to changes in temperature. Everyday activities then become almost impossible, such as buttoning a coat, a trip down the frozen aisle of the supermarket or even turning the key in a front door. Heating in the home will often need to be turned up unusually high, and even air-conditioning in the summer can be extremely uncomfortable.
People with symptoms including cold fingers or toes, or skin colour changes in response to cold or stress, should take The Test. It helps people understand their symptoms and avoid painful episodes, it also explains which symptoms may indicate more serious illnesses.
Sue Farrington, SRUK Chief Executive said: “We know that despite a quarter of people saying that they had experienced symptoms, only 10% on average have visited their GP. This needs to change – Raynaud’s can be a minor but uncomfortable inconvenience, but for those more seriously affected it’s crucial that they seek medical treatment and support as early as possible. We hope with our online test people can self-manage the condition better, seek treatment where necessary but, above all, know that they are not alone.”
“We know that despite a quarter of people saying that they had experienced symptoms, only 10% on average have visited their GP. This needs to change – Raynaud’s can be a minor but uncomfortable inconvenience, but for those more seriously affected it’s crucial that they seek medical treatment and support as early as possible. We hope with our online test people can self-manage the condition better, seek treatment where necessary but, above all, know that they are not alone.”
Find out more about SRUK at www.sruk.co.uk or call us on 020 3893 5998 or email: [email protected]
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