Coronation Street actress Samia Longchambon has opened up about her private health struggle, revealing she has been living with Raynaud's disease for approximately two decades. The condition affects blood circulation, primarily in her fingers, causing pain and numbness.
Sharing the Diagnosis
The Coronation Street star, famous for playing Maria Connor, decided to disclose her condition after posting a photograph on social media that showed the distinctive white tips on her fingers. Noticing numerous concerned comments and questions from followers, Longchambon felt compelled to respond and share her experience.
She explained to her fans: "Seems many of you have the same thing and lots are asking for tips on how to deal with it.. I’ve had it about 20 years now and it’s not dangerous, it’s called #raynauds disease.. when I get too cold a couple of my fingers go numb and I lose feeling in them."
Living with the Condition
Longchambon described how the condition manifests for her. "It doesn’t last long but can be a bit painful when the blood returns. For me, it’s usually just my fingers so it’s quite mild, but I know that it can affect toes too in some people," she added. She also noted that even a brief exposure to cold, such as walking down a supermarket freezer aisle, can trigger an episode.
Drawing from her two decades of managing the disorder, the mother-of-two offered practical advice to her followers who also suffer. Her key tips include keeping warm as a priority, wearing gloves in cold weather, and using hand warmers during winter. She also recommended consuming ginger to help circulation and keeping fingers moving to restore blood flow.
Fellow Soap Star Solidarity
Samia Longchambon is not alone in the public eye with this condition. Michelle Hardwick, who portrays Vanessa Woodfield in Emmerdale, also has Raynaud's. Hardwick took to Instagram to share that she first noticed symptoms aged ten while playing netball and also relies on hand warmers, especially when filming outdoors in the Emmerdale village.
The health revelation comes after Samia recently celebrated her eighth wedding anniversary with husband Sylvain Longchambon, whom she met on Dancing On Ice in 2016. She marked the occasion with a sweet tribute on social media, which was warmly congratulated by her co-stars including Jane Danson and Sally Dynevor.
