Final answer:
A smoker with ischemia in hands and feet is likely suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition strongly linked to smoking and other risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Diagnosis is typically made by comparing blood pressure readings at the ankle and arm. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual described, who is a smoker and is experiencing ischemia of the hands and feet, is likely suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD). Smoking is a major risk factor for PAD, along with others such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol.
The typical diagnostic method for PAD involves comparing blood pressure readings from the ankle and the upper arm, looking for lower pressure in the ankle.
Treatment and early diagnosis of PAD is essential to improve health outcomes. Smoking greatly contributes to PAD and a host of other cardiovascular problems, indicated by the Surgeon General's warning linking it to heart disease.
The symptoms described in historical patient records of gangrenous inflammation and paralysis may have been extreme instances of PAD or other vascular diseases linked to smoking and other risk factors.
Likewise, diabetic complications, which also include neuropathy and ischemic limbs, should be considered in differential diagnoses, especially when the patient presents with uncontrolled blood glucose levels.