Managing Raynaud's with our Hand Warmers
Getting cold hands and feet easily is often chalked up to bad circulation. In many cases it may be Raynaud's phenomenon which is a disorder that causes decreased blood flow in the small blood vessels of the extremities. This bodily reaction is actually normal when it is triggered at more extreme temperatures such as at -20 or -30°F (-29/35°C), but for a Raynaud's sufferer it can occur at 60 or 70°F (15/ 21°C) [1].
The Oxford English Dictionary states that room temperature is conventionally about 20° C or 68° F [2], which suggests that Raynaud's sufferers can have problems with the cold even in typical indoor settings.
You're not alone.
Not only does Raynaud's affect as much as 5 to 10 percent of the population [3], but cold hands can be an issue for the general population of office workers or anyone using a computer for long periods of time. A 2015 study performed with healthy young subjects without any known circulation or nerve issues in the wrist or hands showed that prolonged sedentary work at the computer can lead hands and fingers to decrease in temperature to as low as room temperature [4]. The results from the randomly selected office workers for the study suggest that getting cold hands at work can be a common problem for everyone [5]. That said, I know it's particularly tough for those with Raynaud's.
We know that cold hands can be a problem indoors too.
from air-conditioned to drafty spaces, and in autumn and winter especially
There are lots of products designed to keep hands warm for outdoor use, but what about indoors? Many products can be bulky and restrictive.
Our solution:
At Refiber Designs, our fingerless gloves focus on providing full range of motion. Some features included:
✔️Fitted style – size options XS through XL
✔️Short angled edge – The top of the glove is angled to provide full-range finger mobility, including the pinky.
✔️Seamless thumb hole – No bulk between the thumb and index finger for greater comfort and dexterity.
✔️Quality insulation – Lightweight in feel, while generously insulating, these fingerless gloves keep your hands and wrists comfortable and warm during day-to-day tasks at home and in the office.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Perfect for Raynaud’s conditions- my hands are finally warm while sitting at my computer for work all day!"
-review for Refiber Designs hand warmers
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I have Raynauds and ulnar nerve issues and these are such a blessing. My hands aren't frozen while I'm typing anymore! Will definitely be ordering more."
-review for Refiber Designs hand warmers
Recommended by the Raynaud's Association
"We know many people with Raynaud’s are skeptical about fingerless gloves, as the fingertips are left open to cold temperatures. But think about how a scarf around the back of your neck helps warm your whole body. Covering the arteries in the wrist helps keep the whole hand warmer. True, they aren’t a substitute outdoors for wooly mittens or heated gloves, but indoors when you’re chilled and need dexterity to type, play a musical instrument or just navigate the kitchen, they can offer welcome relief."
-from review by the Raynaud's Association
We've had a thoughtful and thorough product review written by the Raynaud's Association which comes from personal experience from real Raynaud's sufferers. We are a proud sponsor of the Raynaud's Association and love to help improve the lives of Raynaud's sufferers with our products.
An additional feature that we discussed directly with the Raynaud's Association was about providing customization for increased palm coverage to fit your specific concerns. We are happy to provide more coverage for more insulating power, especially for Raynaud's sufferers who may have more need for it. Read more about the best gloves for Raynaud’s and these adjustments in our FAQ here. You can also contact us to discuss these types of adjustments or for any other questions you may have.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and/or your personal accounts with hand warmers and whether they've help you. Please send me a message here.
[1] https://www.raynauds.org/frequently-asked-questions/#collapse-1-15535
[2] Oxford English Dictionary, Third Edition, (November 2010), sub-entry at room.
[3] https://www.raynauds.org/frequently-asked-questions/#collapse-1-15504
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4555279/
[5] Other results from the study[4], that may be of interest, came from comparing different mouse types (regular, regular with wrist padding, and vertical mouse) to see if there was a difference in temperature loss of the hands and wrists. The results are preliminary, but suggest that the vertical mouse reduced the rate of temperature loss and the regular mouse with wrist padding was the next best.
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