Buerger's disease, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is an inflammation of the arteries and veins, legs or arms, which causes pain and variations in skin temperature in the hands or feet due to reduced blood flow.
Generally, Buerger's disease appears in male smokers between the ages of 20 and 45, as the disease is related to cigarette toxins.
There is no treatment for Buerger's disease, but some precautions, such as quitting smoking and avoiding temperature variations, help to reduce your symptoms.
Buerger's disease photo
Treatment for Buerger's disease
Treatment for Buerger's disease should be monitored by the general practitioner, but it is usually started with decreasing the amount of cigarettes smoked per day, until the individual stops smoking, since nicotine causes the disease to worsen.
In addition, the individual should also avoid using patches or medications with nicotine to stop smoking, and should ask the doctor to prescribe drugs without this substance.
There are no drugs to treat Buerger's disease, but some precautions for Buerger's disease include:
- Avoid exposing the affected region to cold; Do not use acidic substances to treat warts and corns; Avoid cold or heat wounds; Wear closed and loosely fitting shoes; Protect your feet with padded bandages or use foam boots; Take 15 to 30 hikes minutes 2 times a day; Raise the head of the bed about 15 centimeters to facilitate blood circulation; Avoid medicines or drinks with caffeine, as they cause narrowing of the veins.
In cases where there is no complete blockage of the veins, bypass surgery or nerve removal can be used to prevent vein spasm, improving blood circulation.
Physiotherapeutic treatment for Buerger's disease does not cure the problem, but it does help improve blood circulation through exercises and massages done at least twice a week.
Symptoms of Buerger's disease
Symptoms of Buerger's disease are related to decreased blood circulation and include:
- Pains or cramps in the feet and hands; Swelling in the feet and ankles; Cold hands and feet; Skin changes in the affected areas with ulcer formation; Variations in skin color, from white to red or purple.
Individuals with these symptoms should consult a general practitioner or cardiologist to diagnose the problem using ultrasound and initiate appropriate treatment.
In the most severe cases of the disease, or when patients do not stop smoking, gangrene may appear in the affected limbs, requiring amputation.
Useful links:
