Buerger’s disease, also known as obliterating thromboangeitis, is an inflammation of the arteries and veins, legs or arms, causing pain and changes in the skin temperature of the hands or feet due to decreased blood flow.
Buerger’s disease usually occurs in men who smoke between the ages of 20 and 45, as the disease is related to toxins found in cigarettes.
- There is no treatment for Buerger’s disease.
- But some precautions.
- Such as quitting smoking and avoiding temperature variations.
- Help reduce symptoms.
Treatment of Buerger’s disease should be controlled by the family doctor, but usually begins with a decrease in the amount of cigarettes that are smoked per day, until the individual quits smoking, as nicotine makes the disease worse.
In addition, the person should also avoid using patches or medications containing nicotine to stop smoking and ask the doctor to prescribe medications without the substance.
There are no medications to treat Buerger’s disease, but some precautions against Buerger’s disease include:
In cases where there is no complete blockage of the veins, bypass surgery or nerve ablation may be used to prevent vein spasm and improve blood circulation.
Physical treatment of Buerger’s disease does not solve the problem, but it does help improve blood circulation through exercises and massages performed at least twice a week.
Symptoms of Buerger’s disease are related to decreased blood flow and include:
People with these symptoms should consult a family doctor or cardiologist to diagnose the problem with an ultrasound and initiate appropriate treatment.
In the most severe cases of the disease, or when patients do not stop smoking, gangrene may occur in the affected limbs, requiring amputation.