Louise Parker: Raynaud's

In this episode, Debbie and Katy speak with Louise Parker, founder and director of the Raynaud’s Clinic in London and independent nurse consultant with 25 years’ NHS experience. Louise breaks down what Raynaud’s actually is, why it’s far more than “just cold fingers,” how environmental triggers have changed, the overlap with inflammatory arthritis, and why many people are living with unmanaged symptoms simply because they’ve never been asked about them. She also explains testing, treatment options, misconceptions, and when Raynaud’s can signal something more serious.

Key Topics Covered

• What Raynaud’s is
• Why it’s no longer just a winter condition, the rise of air‑conditioning and sudden temperature drops
• Everyday triggers: supermarkets, cars, iced drinks, swimming, exercise, stress, adrenaline
• Practical day‑to‑day management: gloves, hand warmers, layering, heated clothing, keeping the core warm
• The difference between “poor circulation” and Raynaud’s
• Natural therapies and medication options
• Weight loss, chemotherapy, and other factors that worsen symptoms
• The overlap with inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue diseases
• When Raynaud’s is benign vs. when it’s a red flag
• What happens at the Raynaud’s Clinic: thermal imaging, capillaroscopy, personalised management plans
• Why patients often aren’t asked about Raynaud’s and why they should be

Keywords: Raynaud’s, circulation, colour changes, microvascular, cold sensitivity, reperfusion pain, autoimmune, inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue disease, systemic sclerosis, lupus, vasculitis, capillaroscopy, thermal imaging, stress response, adrenaline, air‑conditioning triggers, weight loss, chemotherapy, management strategies, heated clothing, hand warmers.

Quotes

“Raynaud’s is an exaggerated response to the cold, you’re not just cold, you’re really cold.”

“Supermarkets are freezing cold… even taking milk out of the fridge can trigger an attack.”

“There’s a misconception that nothing can be done. That’s simply not true.”

“If Raynaud’s appears out of the blue later in life, that’s a red flag worth investigating.”

Resources and mentions

• Raynaud’s Clinic London raynaudsclinic.com: consultations, thermal imaging, capillaroscopy, personalised management plans

• Inflammatory Arthritis UK (IAUK): newsletter, events, research opportunities
• Inflammatoryarthritis.org
• IAUK social channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky
• IAUK YouTube channel to watch full podcast episodes

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medical professionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys, and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content. For more information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/