Tobacco and diabetes increase amputation risk, surgeon warns

A doctor gave a talk to other doctors about how to keep people's legs and arms safe.

He said using tobacco and having diabetes at the same time is very dangerous.

It hurts the tubes inside our bodies that carry blood.

Nicotine, which is in tobacco, makes the blood thick so it cannot flow well.

When blood cannot flow, a leg might have to be removed by doctors.

A warning sign is pain in the legs after walking a short distance.

If the problem is found early, medicine can help.

There are also new surgeries that open up blocked blood vessels.

These surgeries can save legs and fingers even when the problem is serious.

The talk happened in Nellore on National Vascular Surgery Day.