Some sufferers do find it worsens over the years, others find it gets less intense or symptoms simply disappear – there’s really no clear pattern for either future prognosis. What is important to know is that Raynaud’s tends to be a conditioned response. So, the more attacks you allow yourself to have, the more likely you are to have more frequent attacks and they can get progressively more severe. Repeated exposure to the cold and stress can aggravate the condition, increasing the frequency and severity of attacks.
By the same token, the more you are aware of your triggers and can prevent or avoid attacks, you are less likely to trigger future ones, and while they won’t necessarily go away, they can become less frequent and less intense over time. That’s why it’s important to dress properly, avoid exposure and stress when possible and make whatever lifestyle changes you can that may help reduce the onset of attacks.
More doctors should advise us that we do have some (albeit limited) control over the condition. And if we don’t take control, long term – at the extreme – we can do permanent damage to our blood vessels.
