Cold Stimulation Test

A cold stimulation test involves placing your fingers in ice water and checking to see how long it takes your skin to return to a normal temperature. This test is used to find out if you have Raynaud phenomenon. Raynaud phenomenon, also known as Raynaud disease or Raynaud syndrome, is a condition that causes brief episodes or 'attacks' where your blood vessels (the tubes that your blood flows through) narrow.

This decreases the blood flow to certain parts of your body. The attacks usually happen after exposure to cold or stress. They mostly affect your fingers and toes.

But in rare cases, the attacks can affect other areas of your body, such as your ears, nose, lips, or nipples. When you are exposed to cold, your body tries to slow the loss of heat and maintain its temperature. To do this, the blood vessels in the top layer of your skin constrict (narrow).

This moves blood from those vessels near the surface to vessels deeper in the body. But when you have Raynaud phenomenon, the blood vessels in your hands and feet react to cold and stress by narrowing quickly. They also stay narrowed for a long period of time.

A Raynaud attack can be triggered by very mild and limited exposure to cold, such as taking food out of the freezer or holding a cold drink. When an attack happens, your skin may feel cold and numb. Your skin may also turn white or blue due to a lack of oxygen.

As blood flow returns, your skin may tingle, throb, or turn red. An attack may last a few minutes or a few hours. There are two types of Raynaud phenomenon: Primary Raynaud phenomenon: Is the more common type and is often milder. ; Has no known cause.; A family history of the disease and being a woman may increase your risk for this type.; Symptoms usually start before age 30, often during the teenage years. ; Most people can manage their mild symptoms with lifestyle changes.; Secondary Raynaud  phenomenon: Is usually caused by another health condition, such as a rheumatic disease like lupus or scleroderma, carpal tunnel syndrome, or disorders of the immune system, connective tissue, or arteries.; Other causes may include repeated use of vibrating machinery (such as a jackhammer), or exposure to cold or certain chemicals.; Medicines to treat high blood pressure, migraines, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may cause similar symptoms or make your symptoms worse.; Is less common than primary Raynaud but is more serious because it can damage your blood vessels. ; Symptoms may include skin ulcers (open sores caused by poor blood flow) or skin infections.; Symptoms usually start between the ages of 35 and 40. ;

Why this test is done

You may need this test if you have symptoms of Raynaud phenomenon. Its symptoms usually show up after exposure to cold or emotional stress. You may also have them after smoking cigarettes or vaping.

These symptoms mostly affect fingers and toes and can include:

• Skin that turns white or blue (although this can be harder to see if you have darker skin)
• Skin that is numb, painful, or stinging once it starts to warm up
• Skin that takes a long time to warm up after exposure

How to prepare

You don't need any special preparations for a cold stimulation test.

Other names for this test

cold challenge test