People who struggle with a common winter problem might be able to ask their GP about a form of medicine that helps with a painful health issue that can turn fingers and toes “blue”.
TV presenter Cherry Healey shared a question from a follower of her health and lifestyle podcast alongside ITV’s Dr Amir Khan. She shared: “[The podcast listener] has Raynaud’s and this year in winter, it is a terrible time for me. My hands and feet go purple to white and are so painful.”
Cherry had sympathy, sharing that she also struggles in the winter with the same condition. Her medically trained co-host explained how the common condition can be helped with simple home remedies – but some people might want to ask their GP if medication is possible.
He said: “[Doctors] can give you medication to take regularly. In the wintertime, you can take medication to relax the blood vessels. It’s the same medication that [doctors] give people with high blood pressure.”
The ITV regular, who appears on daytime programmes like Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, explained that the medicine works to “open up” blood vessels which become tightened during a bout of Raynaud’s.
The NHS website names the medication that could be prescribed as nifedipine. Aside from being used to prevent people from suffering from future heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
Nifedipine is only available on prescription and typically comes as tablets or capsules. It is also available as a liquid or in drops to be swallowed.
Most adults aged 18 and over can take nifedipine and it is occasionally prescribed for children. However, not all people in the UK can take this drug.
Doctors may not prescribe this medication if any of the following apply to the patient:
- Have ever had an allergic reaction to nifedipine or any other medicine
- Have liver disease
- Have any heart problems (other than high blood pressure), including a recent heart attack, heart failure or unstable angina
- Have diabetes
People taking this medication will be urged to cut grapefruit (and its juice) from their diet. This is because grapefruit can increase the amount of nifedipine in your body, and cause side effects such as headache, flushing and feeling dizzy or faint.
What is Raynaud’s?
According to the NHS, the phenomenon causes people to experience a loss of blood flow to the fingers and toes. This can cause the skin to lose its natural colouration, which is usually achieved by a healthy flow of blood through our bodily systems.
Sometimes, the skin turns white, purple or blue as blood vessels ‘overreact’ to the cold weather conditions. The symptoms of Raynaud’s may last from a few minutes to a few hours.
The specialists claim that the trigger for this is usually the result of cold temperatures. However, cases have been reported where anxiety or stress also leads to Raynaud’s.
The website claims: “It’s common and does not usually cause severe problems. You can often treat the symptoms yourself by keeping warm.” Seek medical help if:
- You have symptoms of Raynaud’s that are very bad or getting worse
- Raynaud’s is affecting your daily life
- Your symptoms are only on 1 side of your body
- You also have joint pain, skin rashes or muscle weakness
- You’re over 30 years old and get symptoms of Raynaud’s for the first time
- Your child is under 12 years old and has symptoms of Raynaud’s
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
