The Raynaud’s Association is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support and education to the millions of sufferers of Raynaud’s Phenomenon, an exaggerated sensitivity to cold temperatures.

The Association seeks to raise awareness and educate the public about Raynaud’s, which can be painful and, for some, may cause serious blood vessel damage. The organization also works to help people understand that Raynaud’s should not be dismissed as a mere nuisance. Seeking medical attention is important both to find treatment and to rule out the possibility that an underlying, serious disease may be causing Raynaud’s symptoms.

Raynaud’s can cause pain and frustration. It can inhibit lifestyle and leisure pursuits, hinder the ability to perform various jobs, and affect relationships with others who are unsympathetic and uneducated about the condition.

But Raynaud’s doesn’t need to be a “life sentence.” Raynaud’s sufferers can find ways to limit Raynaud’s episodes, techniques for protecting extremities from the cold, and ideas for dealing with family, friends and co-workers who do not understand how painful and problematic Raynaud’s can be.