ASK THE DOC: Are my numb fingers anything to worry about?

During winter I get really sore and sometimes numb fingers, is this something to be worried about?

If you find your fingers are going numb, or become painful for an extended period of time (i.e. longer than a few minutes) you may have a very common condition called Raynaud's phenomenon usually triggered by cold temperatures, anxiety or stress. The condition occurs because your blood vessels go into a temporary spasm, which blocks the flow of blood. It frequently affects those who have it in the cold or if they feel anxious.

It's not a serious threat to your health, but can be annoying to live with. People with Raynaud’s often go for long periods without any symptoms, and sometimes the condition goes away altogether.

Reynaud's can occur by itself or in conjunction with other conditions.

In many cases, it may be possible to control the symptoms of Raynaud’s yourself by avoiding the cold, wearing gloves and using relaxation techniques when feeling stressed.

Stopping smoking can also improve symptoms, as smoking can affect your circulation.

If your symptoms are impacting on day-to-day activities, you should speak to your GP. Visit NHS Inform and search for 'Raynaud's' for further information.

I have already tested positive for Coronavirus in the past, but my flatmate is starting to show symptoms. Do I need to isolate again?

If you recover from a confirmed case of coronavirus and then go on later to develop new symptoms, you should follow self-isolation and household isolation advice again. The same applies if you live with someone who develops symptoms – you should continue to follow isolation guidance for households with a possible infection. While you might find this a nuisance, as this is a new disease, we don’t know how much immunity people develop after an episode of infection, or how long any immunity lasts. Following isolation guidance remains the best way to prevent possible spread in the community.

Guidance for isolation, or guidance for households with a possible Coronavirus infection, is available at www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus

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