Can smoking cause limb amputation? Learn about Buerger's Disease

Have you ever thought about how much damage every cigarette you light, every cigarette you use, can do to your hands and feet? Many people think that smoking only harms the lungs and heart. But today we are talking about an equally dangerous, but not very talked about disease. This disease can cause you to lose your fingers, hands, and even your feet. This is called Buerger's Disease .

Simply put, what is Berger's disease?

Simply put, Buerger's disease is a condition in which the blood vessels (veins) in your arms and legs become swollen and blocked by blood clots . It's like a water pipe getting clogged with dirt. Another name doctors use for this is `(Thromboangiitis Obliterans)` or TAO.

There is no specific cure for this disease yet. But the surprising thing is that most people who develop this disease, almost 100 percent, are tobacco users. This can include anything from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff.

Why does this kind of disease occur?

Doctors still don't know exactly what causes this disease. There may be a genetic factor. This means that some people may be naturally predisposed to developing this disease.

But the main suspicion lies with tobacco. There are two ways experts think:

1. Some chemicals in tobacco can irritate the walls of your blood vessels and cause them to swell.

2. Or, tobacco may be disrupting your body's immune system , causing it to start attacking your own good blood vessels, just as it would attack germs .

Do you also have these symptoms?

Often the first sign of this disease is pain in the arms or legs. This pain can gradually spread up the arms and legs. This pain can sometimes be very severe. This pain can occur when you walk, exercise (medically called ``claudication``), or even when you are just standing. This pain can be especially severe in cold weather or when you are stressed.

In addition, you may see changes like this in your hands and feet.

Bad things can happen if you ignore them.

Over time, Buerger's disease can completely cut off blood flow to your fingers and toes. This can lead to a serious condition called ``Gangrene.'' This means that the skin and tissue in that area begin to die. Then those parts lose sensation and turn blue or black.

If you develop gangrene, doctors usually have to surgically remove the damaged area.

Very rarely, this disease can even cause conditions such as stroke or heart attack.

How does the doctor diagnose this disease?

There is no single test that can confirm that this is Berger's disease. Your doctor will first ask you about your tobacco use and your symptoms.

Then, several tests are done to check your blood circulation and rule out other diseases that may have similar symptoms. For example, peripheral artery disease can also cause leg pain. However, the cause is not swelling of the blood vessels, but fatty deposits inside them.

You may need to do tests like these:

• Allen test: This is a very simple blood circulation test. The doctor asks you to squeeze your hand tightly. This will remove some of the blood from your hand. Then, the doctor will clamp the two main arteries near your wrist and ask you to open your hand. Your hand will turn pale. Then, the doctor will release one artery on one side. In a normal person, the blood will fill your hand quickly and return to its normal color. However, if it takes longer for the blood to fill, it could be a sign of Buerger's disease.
• Angiogram: This is a type of X-ray. It is used to look for blocked blood vessels in your arms and legs. The doctor inserts a very thin tube (catheter) into one of your arteries and injects a special dye into it. A quick X-ray is then taken to check the condition of the blood vessels. A CT or MRI scan can also produce similar images.
• Blood tests: These help to make sure you don't have other medical conditions, such as diabetes and lupus.

What are the treatments?

In addition, treatments like these can help improve blood circulation and reduce pain:

• Medicines such as vasodilators or blood thinners.
• Walking exercise.
• Intermittent compression of the arms and legs using specialized equipment.
• A surgery to cut the nerves to the affected area (sympathectomy).

Amputation may be necessary to surgically remove a part that has become injured or gangrenous.

Will quitting smoking really help?

Your future health depends entirely on whether you quit smoking. According to statistics, about 43% of patients who continue to use tobacco will have to have some form of amputation within 8 years of diagnosis.

However, this happens to only 6% of those who quit smoking. This percentage is close to zero among those who are diagnosed early and quit smoking. This shows how important it is to quit smoking, doesn't it?

If you're having trouble quitting smoking, talk to your doctor about programs that can help you. Don't be ashamed. It's a life-saving decision.