A Carshalton postwoman who was diagnosed with an incurable and painful condition is urging more people to recognise the signs of the disease. 

Steph Rolfe, 39, was diagnosed with Raynaud’s in December 2019, which can seriously affect circulation.

Cold temperatures and stress can trigger 'Raynaud's attacks’, which causes blood vessels to constrict and temporarily stop blood flow, most commonly to the hands and feet. 

Despite living with the symptoms of Raynaud’s since a teenager, Steph did not realise they were anything more serious. 

She was rushed to hospital after becoming increasingly cold as her hands turned blue.

“I’ve always suffered with cold feet, hands and other extremities like my ears and nose, but because my sister had the same sort of symptoms, I thought it was just who we were," she said.

"I went through life pretty much just wearing lots of layers on my hands and feet, and sitting at home under blankets.” 

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Steph has since teamed up with charity Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) to warn others that could be living with the condition without realising it. 

Figures published by the charity show that millions of adults in the UK don’t know any of the signs of Raynaud’s.

Around one in six people in the UK are thought to be living with Raynaud’s, but SRUK’s data suggests that roughly one in two adults, would not see their GP even if they experienced the most common symptoms frequently. 

Sue Farrington, SRUK Chief Executive, said: “Raynaud’s is as common as hay fever or arthritis and can have just as big an impact on daily life if not more so, but these figures highlight just how woefully unaware most of us are. 

“Raynaud’s itself is not life-threatening, but it can be very painful and have a huge impact on everyday life.

"During an attack, simple things like buttoning a coat, turning a key in a front door or handling bank cards can become virtually impossible.

"It may also be a sign of something more serious, so it is vital that people know the signs and visit their GP.” 

Steph is supporting SRUK and asking those who may be experiencing symptoms to take the charity’s online test. 

The test, which has been developed in conjunction with clinical experts and delivers results in around 60 seconds, will allow people to find out more about Raynaud’s.

For more information about Raynaud’s visit here.