Primary prevention
A healthy lifestyle, such as avoiding smoking, avoiding injury to digits and vibration exposure, regularly exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding high doses of thyroid hormone replacement therapy, as well as avoiding prolonged exposure to cold temperatures (e.g., by wearing proper outdoor clothing) may reduce the onset of RP in at-risk individuals, but prospective studies in this area are lacking. At-risk people may include those with a strong family history of RP and/or systemic sclerosis.
Secondary prevention
Secondary prevention in patients with RP focuses on reducing attacks through implementing lifestyle measures. The risk of attacks can be mitigated by avoiding smoking, avoiding injury to digits and vibration exposure, regularly exercising, moisturizing dry skin, avoiding drugs known to exacerbate RP, and keeping warm and avoiding damp.[31]
Keeping warm will depend on where a person is living and working. Mild evenings and even air conditioning can trigger RP. Measures to keep the head, hands, and feet warm and dry are especially recommended, as these are more sensitive to temperature changes. Examples can include having adequate blankets while sleeping, wearing waterproof clothing, wearing heated gloves or socks, having a local heater in the workplace, heating a vehicle with a remote starter and/or using a steering wheel cover, and wearing mittens in grocery stores.
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