[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/what-is-buergers-disease\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/what-is-buergers-disease\/","headline":"What Is Buerger’s Disease?","name":"What Is Buerger’s Disease?","description":"Buerger's disease is a rare disorder that affects people who smoke and use tobacco products. ","datePublished":"2016-11-14","dateModified":"2018-08-29","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/hand_holding_cigarette.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/hand_holding_cigarette.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/what-is-buergers-disease\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":327,"keywords":["Buerger's disease","smoking","tobacco products"],"articleBody":"Buerger’s disease is a rare vascular disorder linked to smoking and tobacco use that can cause pain, discoloration, and other symptoms in your limbs. If left untreated, this\u00a0disease can lead to serious complications.Find out more about this condition, who is at risk, and the options for treatment.What is Buerger’s Disease?Healthy blood flow brings oxygen and other nutrients to your organs and tissues. Buerger’s disease, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a very rare condition that causes swelling and blood clots in the small and medium-sized blood vessels of the arms and legs and limits blood flow.Symptoms of Buerger’s DiseaseSymptoms of this disease\u00a0can include:Pain in your arms, hands, legs, or feetPale, red, or blue hands and feetCold hands and feetNumbness or tingling in your limbsSkin ulcers, or wounds that don’t heal on your fingers and toesIf left untreated, Buerger’s disease can cause gangrene or tissue death in your fingers and toes. Once tissue dies, it must be removed, and in some cases through total amputation.RELATED:\u00a0How To Live Without SmokingWho Is At Risk?Nearly all people with Buerger’s smoke or use tobacco. It is most common among young or middle-aged men who smoke heavily and is more prevalent\u00a0in Asia and the Middle East.What Causes Buerger’s Disease?While doctors don’t know the exact cause, Buerger’s disease is linked to smoking and tobacco use. Some doctors believe that the chemicals in tobacco damage the lining of your blood vessels, which causes swelling.RELATED:\u00a0How Quitting Smoking Helps Your HeartWhat Treatments Are Available?While there is no cure, quitting smoking and using tobacco products can help prevent Buerger’s from getting worse. Other treatments, like medicines and procedures to restore blood flow, are usually not very effective.To learn more about Buerger’s disease, contact the UPMC Division of Vascular Surgery at (412)\u00a0802-3333."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Is Buerger’s Disease?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/what-is-buergers-disease\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]