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Non-drug Approaches to Treating Raynaud’s Phenomenon

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Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Abstract

Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) attacks are thought to be triggered by a number of factors, including changes in environmental temperature, trauma to the fingers, smoking, some medications, and emotional distress. The first step in treating RP typically involves lifestyle modification to reduce exposure to potential triggers. To be able to understand and reduce or prevent exposure to triggers and to, thus, reduce the frequency of attacks, patients should be educated about RP and possible precipitating factors for episodes. Non-drug approaches to treating RP, in addition to or as part of patient education, could potentially include: (1) avoiding exposure to cold and maintaining whole body and digital warmth; (2) avoiding medications that may trigger attacks; (3) smoking cessation; (4) behavioral interventions to manage emotional stress; and (5) other approaches, such as laser therapy or acupuncture. In this chapter, evidence related to possible non-drug approaches to treating RP that have been suggested or tested is discussed.

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Abbreviations

RP:

Raynaud’s phenomenon

RCT:

Randomized controlled trials

EMG:

Electromyography

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Kwakkenbos is supported by a Fonds de la Recherche en Santé Québec (FRSQ) postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Thombs is supported by an Investigator Salary Award from the Arthritis Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Cote Ste Catherine Road, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3T 1E4

    Linda Kwakkenbos Ph.D. & Brett D. Thombs Ph.D.

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  1. Linda Kwakkenbos Ph.D.
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  2. Brett D. Thombs Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Linda Kwakkenbos Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Fredrick M. Wigley

  2. Department of Rheumatology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Ariane L. Herrick

  3. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medic, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Nicholas A. Flavahan

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Kwakkenbos, L., Thombs, B.D. (2015). Non-drug Approaches to Treating Raynaud’s Phenomenon. In: Wigley, F., Herrick, A., Flavahan, N. (eds) Raynaud’s Phenomenon. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1526-2_19

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