ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 15 thousand people die each year from a ruptured aortic aneurysm. An aortic aneurysm happens when a bulge develops in the major artery that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It’s hard to spot an aortic aneurysm before it bursts, but as Ivanhoe reports, there are some important signs to look out for.
An aortic aneurysm is often dubbed a “ticking time bomb.” That’s because most people who have an abnormal bulge in their heart’s aorta don’t know it – until it bursts!
Shahab Toursavadkohi, MD, Vascular Surgeon at University of Maryland Medical Center says, “The aorta doesn’t have pain fibers, so people don’t know that they already have an aneurysm, and they don’t know that their life is in danger. So, it’s really a silent assassin.”
Nearly 75 percent of patients with a ruptured aneurysm will die. But at least 95 percent can be successfully treated if the aneurysm is detected before it bursts!
Doctor Toursavadkohi says, “As you can imagine, a rupture of a high-pressure piping inside your body can be very deadly.
Usually, there are no symptoms before a rupture. But a few early warning signs of an aortic aneurysm include chest pain or tenderness, cough or hoarseness, shortness of breath, pain in the back, jaw, or neck, feeling full after small meals, or trouble swallowing. You are at a higher risk for developing an aortic aneurysm if you are male, over age 65, smoke, have high blood pressure, have heart disease, are obese, or have a family history. If you do spot an aneurysm before it ruptures – treatment can be lifesaving.
Doctor Toursavadkohi says aortic aneurysms are often discovered by chance when a patient undergoes imaging tests for another condition or has a physical exam with their doctor. A simple ultrasound can detect an abnormal bulge. Medicare and some private insurance offer free or low-cost aortic screenings for people at risk.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
Sources:
https://news.unchealthcare.org/2014/02/aneurysms-the-silent-killer/
https://news.unchealthcare.org/2014/02/aneurysms-the-silent-killer/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-aortic-aneurysm-grant-wahl-cause-of-death-rupture/
SILENT KILLER: AORTIC ANEURYSM WARNING SIGNS
REPORT #3090
BACKGROUND: An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulging or dilation of the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This is a significant health concern because aneurysms can weaken the walls of the aorta, which can then lead to a life-threatening rupture or dissection. There are two different kinds of aortic aneurysms, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and a thoracic aortic aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are four to six times more common in men than women and they become four percent more common with every decade a male ages. Abdominal aortic aneurysms happen more than thoracic aortic aneurysms due to thinner abdominal walls. You are more at risk to experience one if you smoke, are over age 65, are male, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of them. Every year 200,000 people living in the United States are diagnosed with aneurysms and 95 percent of those can be successfully treated if it is found prior to a rupture.
(Sources: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm and
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16742-aorta-aortic-aneurysm and
https://news.unchealthcare.org/2014/02/aneurysms-the-silent-killer/)
THE STUDY: The current causes of aortic aneurysms are unknown but can include atherosclerosis, a narrowing in the arteries, inflammation of arteries, an injury to an aorta, a family history, or a spreading infection. It is hard to detect any symptoms before an aortic aneurysm takes place. Aneurysms often do not show any symptoms until they rupture. The symptoms of ruptured aneurysms will show as dizziness and lightheadedness, increased and rapid heart rates, chest pain, abdominal pain, and back pain. When aortic aneurysms grow, symptoms will show as trouble breathing and swallowing, feeling fuller than usual, pain where the aneurysm is growing, and swelling on the neck, arms, and face. Knowing the risk factors, recognizing symptoms, and seeking timely medical attention is crucial for the management and prevention of complications associated with aortic aneurysms.
(Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16742-aorta-aortic-aneurysm)
NEW REGULATIONS: Aortic Aneurysms are often found by chance by someone undergoing an imaging test for a different condition or found during a physical examination with their primary doctor. Doctors said ultrasounds were effective in helping to locate an unusual bulge that could lead to aortic aneurysms. Many private insurances and Medicare plans offer affordable options for individuals believed to be more at risk and once a year UNC Aortic Disease Management offers free screening options for aortic disease. Many aortic disease patients that need procedures are now also being treated with minimally invasive treatment techniques.
(Source: https://news.unchealthcare.org/2014/02/aneurysms-the-silent-killer/)
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Bill Seiler
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