Many Scots unaware of incurable condition as common as hay fever

• Raynaud’s symptoms despite it affecting 1 in 6 people in the UK.
• The charity also found that many Scots are likely to dismiss common symptoms rather than visit their GP.
• Raynaud’s is a painful and incurable condition. For some, it can be also be a sign of other serious health problems, including the potentially life-threatening condition, Scleroderma.
• SRUK is calling on people across Scotland to visit its website to find out the signs and take its online diagnosis test.

More than 24 million people in the UK – nearly one in two adults – cannot name any of the symptoms of Raynaud’s, an incurable and painful condition that affects as many people as hay fever, according to new figures released this week.

The charity Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK (SRUK), which commissioned the research, says the data highlights a ‘shocking’ lack of awareness across the UK with millions more likely to dismiss symptoms and avoid their GP.

In Scotland, 49 percent of those surveyed said they could not name any of the signs of Raynaud’s.

Raynaud’s is a chronic condition that affects around 10 million people in the UK – around one in six – and has no cure. Cold temperatures and stress can trigger ‘attacks’, which causes blood vessels to constrict and temporarily stop blood flow, most commonly to the hands and feet. During an attack, affected areas turn white and blue, and become numb. As the blood begins to return, limbs turn red and become painful.

For around 300,000 people it could also be a sign of a serious underlying condition, including the potentially life-threatening autoimmune condition, Scleroderma. The charity says early detection is vital to manage Raynaud’s symptoms effectively, minimise attacks and diagnose any underlying illnesses.

Common signs of Raynaud’s are extremely cold hands and feet, chilblain-like inflammation and colour changes to the skin. However, SRUK has found that many people do not think these would warrant a GP visit. 

In Scotland, around one in four of those surveyed (24 percent) reported experiencing extremely cold fingers and/or toes more than once, but 47 percent said they would not see their doctor if they experienced this regularly.

Likewise, more than four in 10 (43 percent) said they would not visit their GP over frequent colour changes in the skin, despite nearly one in five (19 percent) reporting this as something they have experienced more than once. Meanwhile, one in two people (50 percent) said they would not book a GP appointment for frequent chilblains on their hands and feet.

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.

“Around 3 million people with the condition have to live with this all year round and attacks can be difficult to manage, particularly without any expert health advice. It may also be a sign of something more serious, so it’s not something to be swept under the carpet and ignored – it’s vital people know the signs and visit their GP.”

In Scotland, around one in four people surveyed (24 percent) reported that they would be less likely to visit their GP if they were to experience extremely cold hands and feet or chilblain-like inflammation because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Claire, 46, who lives near Glasgow in Scotland, has been living with Raynaud’s since her twenties. Initially dismissing the symptoms, she was formally diagnosed at the age of 40.

Claire said: “Even just opening the fridge and taking something out like the milk carton can affect my fingers. When I’m making dinner, if I take a plate out of the cupboard, the coldness of the plate – or even the cutlery – can start a Raynaud’s attack. It’s horrendous. It takes about half an hour to get the feeling back into my fingers.”

Claire says she regrets not seeing her GP earlier: “I do wonder if I had been diagnosed earlier whether my Raynaud’s have become this severe, but I didn’t want to bother them with what I thought was a little nerve damage.

This February, Raynaud’s Awareness Month, SRUK is calling on adults to make time to understand the signs of Raynaud’s and for those who may be experiencing symptoms to take the charity’s simple online test.

The test, which has been developed in conjunction with clinical experts and delivers results in around 60 seconds, will allow people to find out more about Raynaud’s, how to manage it and advise if a GP visit is required.

For more information about Raynaud’s, the signs to look out for and how to manage symptoms, or take SRUK’s online test, visit www.sruk.co.uk/testme