Circulatory problems are a common factor of a number of disorders, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. A number of circulatory specific ailments also fall into this category.
Raynaud's Phenomenon
Raynaud's phenomenon is an overreaction of a normal response and affects the extremities, particularly the fingers, toes, and tip of the nose. When you are cold, small arteries (arterioles) in your extremities constrict to redirect blood flow internally to keep it warm. When the extremities become warm, the arteries relax and blood flow returns to normal. Under Raynaud's phenomenon, this constriction occurs at the slightest stimulation and the arteries remain closed for an extended period of time.
The phenomenon mostly affects women, though it is not known why. Women experiencing Raynaud's phenomenon also tend to have migraines and other conditions involving over-reactive blood vessels.
Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease)
Buerger's disease is a circulatory disease involving the obstruction of small and medium-sized arteries and veins. The resulting, chronic, inflammation of the blood vessels primarily affects the foot or lower leg but can also occur in the hand, arm, or thigh.
The condition mostly affects male smokers between twenty and forty years of age. Only 5% of cases involve women.
