| If there's any truth to the old adage "Cold hands, | | | | blood-clotting cells, called platelets, less likely to |
| warm heart," then anyone who has Raynaud's | | | | clump together. Besides salmon, enjoy mackerel, |
| syndrome must be burning with passion. | | | | herring, and tuna-all excellent sources of |
| Raynaud's makes a person's hands feel so cold | | | | omega-3's. |
| that they absolutely ache. | | | | Supplements |
| Raynaud's syndrome is named for the French | | | | Opt for omega-3 capsules. If you're not a fan of |
| physician Maurice Raynaud, who first documented | | | | fish, you can get your omega-3's by taking fish-oil |
| the condition in the mid1860s. Since then, | | | | supplements. At Albany Medical College in New |
| scientists have determined that Raynaud's occurs | | | | York, researchers saw improvement in 45 |
| because of spasms in the small arteries that | | | | percent of a group taking fish-oil capsules. |
| deliver blood to your finers. | | | | The fish-oil capsules used in the study contained |
| It's normal for these blood vessels to constrict a | | | | 330 milligrams of eicosapentaenoic acid (BPA) and |
| little when you're exposed to cold or when you're | | | | 220 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). |
| under stress. But if you have Raynaud's, the | | | | The study participants took 12 of these capsules |
| vessels clamp down big-time, causing pain. Your | | | | a day. You can buy fish-oil capsules in health food |
| fingers turn blue or white. In some people, it's | | | | stores and some drugstores. |
| more than fingers that are affected. Toes, | | | | Open blood vessels with niacin. Several studies |
| cheeks, the nose, and ears may chill and change | | | | have shown that taking large doses of a form of |
| color as the blood vessels constrict in those areas. | | | | niacin called inositol nicotinate reduces spasms in |
| About 5 percent of Americans have Raynaud's, | | | | the blood vessels of the fingers. This helps control |
| and at least four out of five of those are women. | | | | the frequency and severity of Raynaud's |
| Most people first notice symptoms sometime | | | | flare-ups. |
| between ages 20 and 35. | | | | If you want to try niacin therapy, consult a |
| If you have Raynaud's, you may also be prone to | | | | nutritionist or a nutrition-minded doctor, advises |
| migraines. Similar to Raynaud's, migraines begin | | | | Melvyn R. Werbach, M.D., assistant clinical |
| when blood vessels in your head constrict. If the | | | | professor at the University of California, Los |
| vessels in your fingers tend to spasm, there's a | | | | Angeles, School of Medicine. It's best to take |
| good chance that the vessels in your head do the | | | | doses over 35 milligrams per day only under |
| same. | | | | professional supervision. |
| With proper home care, however, you might be | | | | Warm up to magnesium. Magnesium therapy has |
| able to relieve your frigid digits and possibly help | | | | been used to treat some conditions that involve |
| your migraines as well. Here's what the experts | | | | blood vessel constriction. One study has shown |
| recommend. | | | | that those with Raynaud's have significantly lower |
| Best Choices | | | | magnesium levels during the winter months, |
| Nutrition | | | | suggesting that lack of magnesium could be linked |
| Sink your teeth into sahnon. Salmon and other | | | | to the problem. |
| cold-water fish contain an abundance of omega-3 | | | | "I think magnesium supplementation is worth a |
| fatty acids. These "good fats" improve blood flow | | | | try," says Alan Gaby, M.D. He suggests taking 400 |
| throughout your body by making your | | | | milligrams a day. |