Recent study by city doctor reveals that smoking is as dangerous as diabetes, for it can slowly eat away your limbs. City’s witnessing a spurt in foot amputation cases among smokers
You think that only diabetes can lead to gangrene and amputations, right? Wrong. That cancer stick that you suck on during breaks can make you go out on a limb, literally. This can be seen through the rising numbers of patients suffering from peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in the city. Experts are saying that the number of foot amputations among smokers in the city is fast approaching the danger mark.

Dr M S Hiremath, affiliated to Ruby Hall Clinic, has conducted research in connection to smoking and amputation. He said, “A few people know and believe smoking can result in them losing their legs. It is the same atherosclerotic [cholesterol deposition] process that blocks the heart’s arteries and lead to heart disease. In Pune, out of the 100 cases that I see on an average every month, 20 are diagnosed with PVD; so one can imagine how serious this issue is becoming.”

“Many smokers do not believe smoking causes gangrene, a serious side-effect of PVD. Many are diagnosed with PVD every month in Pune. Seventy-three per cent of PVD cases in men and 27 per cent of PVD cases in women in India are caused due to smoking and smokers are two-anda-half times more likely to develop PVD than someone who has never smoked. Close to 20 million Indians are suffering from PVD and 70 per cent of them suffer from lower limb PVD,” Hiremath said. He added, “Smoking is the number one risk factor for PVD and over 32 per cent of people with PVD affecting the lower limbs are either smokers or ex-smokers. Another important aspect is the huge population of smokers who are also diabetics, which further heightens the risk of PVD. Close to 25-27 million Indians fall in this category.”

“Smokers are likely to worsen their symptoms of PVD, and as a result increase their risk of amputation. Compared to smokers, people who quit smoking have less severe pain when walking and are less likely to develop pain at rest. They live longer, respond better to treatment, and are less likely to require amputation. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of PVD and the longer one has quit, the lower it becomes,” Hiremath added.

How PVD ruins your limbs
PVD occurs when the arteries (blood vessels) supplying blood to various parts of the body become narrow because of the build up of fatty deposits, which are sometimes called plaques or lesions, on the inside walls (linings) of the blood vessels. When the arteries that carry blood to your legs become too narrow because of deposit buildup, blood flow is reduced and the leg muscles do not get enough oxygen to support physical activity. This causes pain and is called ischaemia, which eventually leads to gangrene, and amputation.

Smoking is the number one risk factor for PVD and over 32% of people with PVD affecting the lower limbs are either smokers or ex-smokers


Source: Times of India