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Keep Calm Warm and Carry On.
Exposure to cold or even a slight change in
temperature can trigger a Raynaud's attack.
Scleroderma and Raynauds UK has some
advice on how to keep warm.
At Night
Warm the bed with a hot water bottle or electric blanket.
Wear flannelette night clothes, night cap, bed socks, gloves
etc. Keep extra blankets ready during a cold spell. Thermal
under blankets add extra warmth.
Air Conditioning
Wear a thick headscarf, especially in air-conditioned buildings
and on aircraft when the cold air circulates around your neck.
Clothing
Outside, wear several thin layers of clothing to trap warm air
rather than one, heavy garment. Avoid tight clothing - it may
restrict your blood flow. Thermal clothing is excellent.
Natural fibres like wool, cotton or silk will keep you warmer
than most synthetic ones. Try thin cotton or silk gloves under
thicker mittens or gloves. Gloves and socks made with pure
silver reflect 95% of the body’s energy back to the skin. A
scarf can keep the nose, mouth and cheeks warm and there
are even face masks, to fit over the nose and protect your
face, neck and ear. A polo neck will help to keep your neck
warm.
Eating for Warmth
Your body needs warming ‘fuel’ to brave the cold. Start
the day with a bowl of hot porridge or cereal with warm
milk. Try to eat lots of small meals to maintain your energy
and heat levels and whenever possible have a hot meal at
midday. Plenty of hot drinks between meals and before to
bed are essential. Keep a good supply of food in the house
and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Good sources of
protein and energy are bread, milk, meat, fish, eggs, potatoes
and baked beans. Keep a pair of oven gloves by the fridge.
Raynaud's can attack just by going into the freezer or picking
up a cold object.
When going out, microwave a couple of jacket potatoes, wrap
them in tin foil and put them in your pockets. They'll keep
your hands warm and you can eat them later.
www.scleroderma.org.nz
Handy Hints.
Avoid touching cold surfaces like milk bottles.
Don’t have ice cold drinks straight from the fridge.
Take a flask of hot water or soup with you in a car.
Warm up doing the ironing. A metallised ironing board cover
will reflect heat and help to keep you warm.
Warm clothes and shoes with a hair-dryer before going out.
A hot bath before bed aids a good night's sleep.
Leave the bath water in while you dress - it will give off
enough heat to keep you warm.
Stop smoking - it's harmful and smoking can reduce your
temperature by one degree over a twenty minute period.
Warm your hands on public air hand dryers when shopping.
Keep your clothes and shoes for the next day in the airing
cupboard overnight.
When your eyes see red you feel warmer. Fires with a red glow
make you feel warmer than convection heaters. Add warmth
with red flowers or a red lamp shade or bulb.
Fill a box with packaging polystyrene balls and place your
hands in it. This is a good way to warm them.
When watching television place a hot water bottle behind your
back or under your feet.
Keep doors closed - leaving a door open to talk to the milkman
or neighbour can drastically reduce the temperature.
Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth
when outdoors - this stops cold air being sucked in through
your mouth and sent straight to your lungs.
Use shoulder bags for shopping where possible rather than
ones with handles as these can restrict blood to the fingers.
Make a delicious warming drink with finely minced, crystallised
ginger. Just add lemon juice, ginger and a teaspoon of honey
to boiling water. It's tasty and will help boost the circulation.
Plan ahead - make sure you have hand warmers with you.
Carry a pair of gloves or mittens with you at all times - frozen
food aisles in supermarkets can be extremely cold, especially
when handling food packaging.