Smoking and Buerger's Disease

What Is Buerger's Disease?

Buerger’s disease affects blood vessels in the arms and legs. Blood vessels swell, which can prevent blood flow, causing clots to form. This can lead to pain, tissue damage, and even gangrene (the death or decay of body tissues).¹ In some cases, amputation may be required.²

The most common symptoms of Buerger’s disease are:²

Pale, red, or bluish hands or feet
Cold hands or feet
Pain in the hands and feet; may be severe
Pain in the legs, ankles, or feet when walking—often located in the arch of the foot
Skin changes, painful sores, or ulcers on the hands or feet

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How Is Smoking Related to Buerger's Disease?

Almost everyone with Buerger’s disease smokes cigarettes. However, Buerger’s disease can occur in people who use other forms of tobacco, like chewing tobacco. People who smoke 1½ packs a day or more are most likely to develop Buerger's disease.³

Researchers are working to understand how tobacco increases the risk for Buerger's disease. One idea is that chemicals in tobacco irritate the lining of the blood vessels and cause them to swell.³

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How Can Buerger's Disease Be Prevented?

If you want to prevent getting Buerger’s disease, don’t smoke or use any other tobacco products.¹

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How Is Buerger's Disease Treated?

There is no cure for Buerger’s disease. The only way to keep Buerger’s disease from getting worse is to stop using all tobacco products. Medicines don’t usually work well to treat the disease. The best they can do is to control the symptoms.²

Surgery may help restore blood flow to some areas.¹ It may be necessary to amputate the hand or foot if infection or widespread tissue death occurs.²

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References

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Types of Vasculitis [last updated 2011 Apr 1; accessed 2014 Jan 10].
Medline Plus. Thromboangiitis Obliterans [last updated 2013 Oct 31; accessed 2014 Jan 10].
Mayo Clinic. Buerger’s Disease: Risk Factors [last updated 2016 Jan 28; accessed 2016 Jun 6].