Which triggers Raynaud's attacks?

Which triggers Raynaud's attacks?

• A. Heat
• B. Cold or Stress
• C. Exercise
• D. Sleep

Answer: (B)

Raynaud's attacks are triggered by cold exposure or emotional stress. When the fingers or toes encounter cold or a stressful moment, the small arteries spasm, dramatically reducing blood flow. This vasoconstriction causes the familiar sequence of color changes—initial pale whiteness from reduced perfusion, then blue from deoxygenation, and finally red as blood flow returns—often accompanied by numbness, tingling, or pain. Heat and warmth promote vasodilation, so they are not triggers and can help relieve symptoms. Exercise generally increases blood flow and isn’t a typical trigger, and sleep isn’t itself a trigger unless the environment is cold. The key idea is that cold and stress initiate the reflex narrowing of small vessels that leads to Raynaud’s attacks.

Raynaud's attacks are triggered by cold exposure or emotional stress. When the fingers or toes encounter cold or a stressful moment, the small arteries spasm, dramatically reducing blood flow. This vasoconstriction causes the familiar sequence of color changes—initial pale whiteness from reduced perfusion, then blue from deoxygenation, and finally red as blood flow returns—often accompanied by numbness, tingling, or pain. Heat and warmth promote vasodilation, so they are not triggers and can help relieve symptoms. Exercise generally increases blood flow and isn’t a typical trigger, and sleep isn’t itself a trigger unless the environment is cold. The key idea is that cold and stress initiate the reflex narrowing of small vessels that leads to Raynaud’s attacks.