6. Lung Damage
Systemic scleroderma can affect the lungs by causing loss of lung function, severe lung disease or scarring of lung tissue. Scarring of lung tissue can result in reduced lung function, reduced ability to breathe and reduced tolerance for exercise. You may also develop high blood pressure in the arteries to your lungs (pulmonary hypertension). It is especially important to watch for the following signs of lung disease and discuss them with your doctor.
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Problems with breathing
7. Heart
Scarring of heart tissue increases your risk of abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias) and congestive heart failure, and can cause inflammation of the sac surrounding your heart. Scleroderma also can raise the pressure on the right side of your heart and cause it to become weak.
8. Raynaud’s Phenomenon
Most people with scleroderma have Raynaud’s phenomenon. This condition can cause pain within the affected extremities, discoloration (paleness), and sensations of cold and/or numbness.
If someone with Raynaud’s is placed into a cold climate, it could potentially become dangerous.
- When exposed to cold temperatures, the blood supply to the fingers or toes, and in some cases the nose or earlobes, is markedly reduced; the skin turns pale or white and becomes cold and numb.
- When the oxygen supply is decreased, the skin color turns blue.
- These events are intermittent, and when the episode subsides or the area is warmed, the blood flow returns, and the skin color first turns red and then back to normal. This is often accompanied by swelling, tingling, and a painful “pins and needles” sensation.
Things that can help the symptoms include:
- Not smoking.
- Dressing warmly and keeping hands and feet warm.
- Doing gentle stretches that may relax the body.
- Asking about medicines that open small blood vessels and helping with blood flow.
The Raynaud’s phenomenon that occurs with scleroderma can be so severe that the decreased blood flow permanently damages the tissue at the fingertips, causing skin sores (ulcers).