People urged to take one-minute online test that can show if you have health condition

People are being urged to complete an easy one-minute test for a health condition as we move intothe colder months. Health charity Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK (SRUK) urged the public to #BePartOfTheAnswer as it kicks off a pioneering 'citizen science' study on Raynaud's and relatedauto-immune conditions.

The campaign, backed by NHS GP, BBC Morning Live resident doctor and author, Dr Punam Krishan, is encouraging Brits to take a quick 60-second online test to see if they could be one of the10 million people in the UK affected by Raynaud's.

This reminder comes at a time when symptoms are often triggered by fluctuating temperatures, and with the UK moving into the cooler months, many may be experiencing these signs more intensely. Those who the test suggests might have Raynaud's will be invited to fill out a brief, anonymous medical survey and pre-register to download SRUK's symptom tracker app set to launch early next year.

• 'Deceptive' two word phrase could actually be a sign someone is battling anxiety
• Brits spend two and a half hours daily doing this - and it makes them miserable

From this, they will utilise the anonymised data to bolster scientific research into the condition and related autoimmune conditions, about which too little is currently known. SRUK is hopeful that if at least 10,000 people participate, they can aid potential breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment for Raynaud's and other debilitating autoimmune conditions like scleroderma, lupus and vasculitis.

What are the symptoms of Raynaud's?

Raynaud's is estimated to affect up to 10 million people in the UK and occurs when the small blood vessels in the extremities such as the hands, feet, fingers, or toes are oversensitive to even the slightest change in temperature and sometimes, emotional stress. This results in the skin turning white, then blue and finally to red as circulation returns, and can often be accompanied by numbness or pain, reports Surrey Live.

Raynaud's can be an indicator of more serious, life-limiting conditions such as scleroderma.

Dr Krishan said: "Contributing to medical research projects doesn't have to be a complex and invasive process – mass 'citizen science' projects such as the ZOE COVID Symptom Tracker App showed how valuable simple health data could be in helping medical professionals to learn more about a condition and therefore offer faster diagnosis and protect lives.

"With your help, we can take similar steps forward for patients living with Raynaud's, scleroderma, and other related conditions by sparing just one minute to take SRUK's online test. I've already taken the test and encourage as many people as possible to do the same. This campaign is one particularly close to my heart as I know just how challenging the condition can be."

What is Secondary Raynaud's?

An estimated 300,000 individuals may be suffering from 'secondary Raynaud's', a condition that could indicate the presence of another underlying autoimmune disorder such as scleroderma. This is a chronic and debilitating condition, affecting the skin and internal organs, which in some cases can be life-threatening.

What's the app all about?

The #BePartOfTheAnswer research project is spearheaded by SRUK in collaboration with Professor Francesco Del Galdo, Associate Professor of Rheumatology at University of Leeds and Rheumatology Consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust.

Together, they are developing the STAR app set to launch early next year. This will enable people to keep track of their symptoms, pain, frequency of attack and monitor changes over time.

The anonymised data collected from the STAR app will also contribute to scientific research conducted by Professor Del Galdo and his team, aiming to improve the diagnosis rates and treatment of Raynaud's and other related autoimmune conditions.

Professor Del Galdo remarked: "Raynaud's is as common as it is hard to manage. People with Raynaud's and their doctors do not have a simple blood test to tell them how the condition is progressing or responding to treatment. So, patients need to keep a mental note of their symptoms and report them at their sporadic appointments with their healthcare professional.

" The STAR App will offer a handy and simple-to-use tool to track Raynaud's attacks, associate them with other symptoms, physical activity, and the weather, and will provide both patients and doctors a reliable tool to measure the impact of Raynaud's."

Sue Farrington, Chief Executive, SRUK, stated: "There is so much we don't know about debilitating auto-immune conditions like scleroderma and lupus, but we do know that many of the answers, the keys to unlocking breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, could start with the millions of people who have Raynaud's.

"That's why we are calling on as many people as possible who think they might have Raynaud's, to take our simple test and be part of the answer."