What is acrocyanosis?The definition of acrocyanosis is a decrease in the amount of oxygen delivered to the extremities. The hands and feet turn blue because of the lack of oxygen. Decreased blood supply to the affected areas is caused by constriction or spasm of small blood vessels.
Here is a little more about acrocyanosis.Acrocyanosis is a painless disorder caused by constricted or narrowed small blood vessels in the skin of the affected patients. The spasm of the blood vessels reduces the amount of blood that passes through them, resulting in less blood being delivered to the hands and feet. The hands usually are the main area affected. The affected areas turn blue and become cold and sweaty.Swelling may also occur in the hands and feet. Emotion and cold temperatures can heighten the symptoms, while warmth can decrease the discoloration and swelling.The hands usually are the main area affected. People with the disease tend to be uncomfortable, with sweaty, cold, bluish colored hands and feet.
What causes acrocyanosis?The sympathetic nerves cause constriction or spasms in the blood vessels that supply blood to the extremities.The sympathetic nerve is a nerve of the autonomic nervous system that regulates involuntary and automatic reactions, especially to stress, that is why the emotional state of someone with acrocyanosis will heighten the symptoms. The spasms are a contraction of the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels. The contraction reduces the internal diameter of the blood vessels which decreases the amount of blood flow through the affected extremity. The spasms occur on a regular basis, which results in the long term reduction of blood supply to the hands and feet. Enough blood still passes through the blood vessels so there is not damage to the tissue in the affected areas, and it does not starve for oxygen or die. Mainly, blood vessels near the surface of the skin are affected.
The diagnosis of acrocyanosis, by a doctor, is made by observingthe main symptoms, including constantlyblue and sweaty hands and/or feet and a lack of the feeling of pain Cooling the hands increases the blueness, while warming the hands decreases the blue color. The acrocyanosis patient’s pulse is normal, which rules out other artery blockage diseases.
Acrocyanosis usually isn’t treated. However drugs that block the uptake of calcium and alpha-one antagonists reduce the symptoms in most cases. Drugs that dilate blood vessels are only effective some of the time. Sweating from the affected areas can be profuse and require treatment. Surgery to cut the sympathetic nerves is performed but rarely.When acrocyanosis is left untreated the disease does not get worse.
In summary, acrocyanosis is a decrease in the amount of oxygen delivered to the extremities.It is a painless disorder caused by constricted or narrowed small blood vessels in the skin of the affected patients. The sympathetic nerves cause constriction or spasms in the blood vessels that supply blood to the extremities.The sympathetic nerve is a nerve of the autonomic nervous system that regulates involuntary and automatic reactions, especially to stress. The spasm of the blood vessels reduces the amount of blood that passes through them.The hands usually are the main area affected but can also affect the feet as well The affected areas turn blue and become cold and sweaty.Swelling may also occur in the hands and feet. The hands usually are the main area affected.The sympathetic nerves cause constriction or spasms in the blood vessels that supply blood to the extremities.Acrocyanosis usually isn’t treated.When acrocyanosis is left untreated the disease does not get worse