Do I Have Buerger’s Disease?

Do you have tingling or numbness in your hands or feet?

Do you have pale, reddish or blue-tinted hands or feet?

Do you have cold hands and feet?

Do you have pain that may come and go in your legs and feet or in your arms and hands?

Do you have pain in your legs, ankles, or feet when walking (often located in the arch of your foot)?

Do you feel pain when using your hands (during various activities)?

Does the pain disappears after you stop with previous activities?

Do you have a tender, red area along the vein just below the skin's surface?

Do your fingers and toes become pale when exposed to cold (Raynaud's phenomenon)?

Do you have painful open sores on your fingers and toes?

Do you smokes cigarettes or use tobacco in any form (e.g. chewing tobacco) now or have you ever used it?

Are you a man under 45?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have Buerger’s disease. Buerger's disease is also called thromboangiitis obliterans. It is a vascular disease characterized by inflammation in the small and medium-sized blood vessels of the arms and legs. Affected arteries and veins become swollen and narrowed, causing reduced blood flow to your limbs. Also, these changes in blood vessels increase the risk of blood clots forming. Buerger's disease is more common in young and middle-aged men who are heavy cigarette smokers. It can also occur in people who chew tobacco. The exact cause of Buerger's disease is unknown.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have Buerger’s disease. Buerger’s disease is a medical condition that refers to the inflammation of the blood vessels in your limbs. Inflamed blood vessels become narrow or clogged with blood clots, which deprives the tissues of oxygen and nutrients. The cause of this condition is unknown, but it is associated with the use of tobacco. It is believed that various chemicals in tobacco cause irritation and damage to the lining of your blood vessels. Diagnosis is based on your symptoms, blood tests, Allen's test to check blood flow through your hands and an angiogram.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have Buerger’s disease. Buerger's disease is a vascular disease associated with heavy tobacco use. This condition causes the improper blood flow in your limbs which can lead to pain, discoloration of your hands and feet, tissue damage and even gangrene if left untreated. The only way to stop the progression of Buerger's disease is to quit smoking and abstain from all types of tobacco products. There is no cure for this condition, but there are medications that can help control and alleviate your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend surgery to restore blood flow to affected areas.