Which disease is characterized by a lack of blood flow to the fingertips and is more common in women?

Raynaud's disease is characterized by episodic attacks that cause a lack of blood flow to the fingers and sometimes the toes, typically in response to cold temperatures or emotional stress. During these attacks, the affected areas may turn white or blue as blood vessels constrict, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, or pain. This condition is more prevalent in women and can be influenced by genetic factors or underlying health issues.

Understanding Raynaud's disease is important in the field of mortuary science, as it emphasizes the importance of recognizing how certain health conditions can affect individuals, particularly in terms of vascular health. The other conditions listed do not specifically characterize the same symptoms or demographic trends. For example, atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) involve broader circulatory issues that impact larger blood vessels and are not specifically limited to the fingertips or predominantly affect women. Diabetes can lead to a variety of circulatory complications but is not directly focused on the symptoms associated with Raynaud's disease.