Raynaud's phenomenon also commonly occurs in people who use vibrating or hammering tools or instruments. Your doctor will do blood tests and examine your nail folds, the area right above the cuticle under the skin, to figure out which form of Raynaud's you have. It's estimated that 5 to 10 percent of Americans have Raynaud's. It's not known why more women than men have Raynaud's, but women get autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and lupus more than men do, and Raynaud's often develops with these. Also, smoking may contribute to Raynaud's because the nicotine in tobacco causes blood vessels to constrict.
People are more likely to develop a more severe case if they're smokers.
Other products that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, such as diet pills and cold remedies, may contribute to the development of Raynaud's, says Dr. Kahl. Medications that women take for other health problems may also contribute to or exacerbate Raynaud's. Women get migraine headaches more than men, and migraine medications, called beta-blockers, can trigger Raynaud's. Finally, researchers say that there may be a link between women's hormone levels and Raynaud's, though they're not sure what the link is. There's no definitive answer on whether the birth control pill affects Raynaud's.