This site/blog explains everything about Raynaud's Phenomenon in normal human language,
no sophisticated and scientific words, but everything discussed here have a scientific base.

This blog is created, in the hope that it will help the people affected by this disease.
Kindly use "Index" for a better experience. (Given on right hand side.)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

What is more severe Raynaud's Primary or Secondary?

        As explained in my previous post, Raynaud's Primary or Secondary?,
The names Primary and Secondary have nothing to do with the severity of the Raynaud's Phenomenon.
As a matter of fact, there are very few patients of Secondary in comparison with Primary.

        One might say, "That's not correct, I have heard a lot about Secondary being more complex and difficult to treat, and it is more dangerous." Well, that is true. But it has got nothing to do with the severity.
        It is not very rare that Primary form is more sever than the Secondary. Then what has to do with the severity?
        Well the answer lies in my previous post. Don't worry, you don't have to visit the post. (But if you want more information about the difference between Primary and Secondary form then I can't help it, you must visit that post :p )
        In simple and non-techy language, the name Secondary Raynaud's is given to Raynaud's Phenomenon when, the Phenomenon is a result of some other disease which the patient already has.

Now, my most favourite part, the assumptions!

Suppose, Mark Z. is perfectly fit and fine on medical terms, but all of a sudden he generated Primary Raynaud's on February 1st 2011.
Assumption second: Bill G. has been suffering from Lupus since 98. But his Lupus gave him the gift of Raynaud's exactly on February 1st 2011.
Assumption third: Mark and Bill and neighbours, so all the environmental conditions are same for them.
So, technically Mark has Primary and Bill has Secondary Raynaud's.
Now we will assume that as of February 1st, Mark and Bill has the same severity of Raynaud's.
But Mark did not take care of his Raynaud's, he smoked a lot of cigarettes, drank a lot drinks containing caffeine, consumed medicines containing beta-blockers.
And on the other hand, Bill behaved like a good boy, and did no bad things.
So, on March 1st 2012, the severity of Mark's Raynaud's became more than of Bill's.
Here you saw, how severity has nothing to with the form of Raynaud's.

        Now, one might ask, "Then why is it said that Secondary is more complex than Primary? And furthermore, why is it more difficult to treat than Primary?
Well, for the answer, we will consult Bill!
Here is Bill's answer: "As you know, I am suffering from Lupus since a long time now, my body is a little fragile. When my doctors found out that I am also suffering from Raynaud's, they had to be very careful about my medicines. Because they did not want to give me some medicines that would increase my problems with Raynaud's."
So, you can guess why is it said to be complex/difficult to treat.
        And while it is the primary form, the doctors or the patients don't have to worry about anything except Raynaud's.
        If we take a look at Mark, we can see that Mark has to take the precautions only for Raynaud's. But as his severity has increased, his doctors think that it is time to threaten Mark and prescribe some medicines for him. (This kind of threatening includes "quit smoking, or your body will..." A word to the wise!) Here, doctor doesn't have to be as careful as he has to be with Bill's case. Both, Bill, and Mark are treated by the same doctor, named Timothy G.

Conclusions:
  • Severity has nothing to do with form of Raynaud's.
  • The only difference is, Secondary Raynaud's is difficult/complex to treat, than the Primary Raynaud's.
  • In case of Secondary form, person has Raynaud's and something more. And this persons needs to take care of all of them.
  • With Secondary, as there are more than one diseases in the body, it is a real troublemaker.
  • You should read the difference between primary and secondary form, and precautions on this blog. :D


Warm Regards,
Kiran Nayak :-)

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