What is aortic aneurysm?
Aortic aneurysm is bulging or increase in the size of aorta. Aorta is body’s main artery and is usually around 2cm wide. Aneurysm means bulging. The function of aorta is to carry oxygen rich blood from heart to the rest of the body. Aneurysm weakens the aorta which can burst. If aorta bursts, it can cause serious problems and sometimes it may lead to death. An aneurysm can form in any section of the aorta.
They are most common in the belly area. That is called abdominal aortic aneurysm. They can also happen in the upper body. That is thoracic aortic aneurysm. Thoracic aneurysms are also known as ascending or descending aortic aneurysms.
Causes …show more content…
Atherosclerosis is hardening of arteries. The wall of artery is normally very elastic it can stretch and then shrink back as needed to adapt to the blood flow. These problems weaken the artery walls.
It is thought that atherosclerosis causes changes in the lining of the artery wall that may affect oxygen and nutrient flow to the aortic wall tissues. The resulting tissue damage and breakdown may lead to the development of an aneurysm.
Genetics: some people may inherit such conditions; the walls of the major arteries, including the aorta are weakened. Aortic aneurysm runs in families.
Aging: the aorta naturally becomes less elastic and stiffer with age, increasing the risk for an abdominal aortic …show more content…
The damage leads to clot formation. A blood clot can narrow the aorta and slow down blood flow to the rest of the body. Pieces of the blood clot can break off and get struck in the blood stream blocking blood flow and damaging the tissue beyond the blood clot.
How to diagnose aortic aneurysm:
Aneurysms are often diagnosed by chance during exams or tests done for other reasons. In some cases they are found during a screening test for aneurysms. Screening tests help your doctor look for a certain disease or condition before any symptoms appear.
Who are eligible for screening for aneurysm?
KIMS recommends screening tests for abdominal aneurysms for men who are ages 65 to 75 and they are habitual smokers or occasional smokers
If aneurysm is present in their family history, one can get screened between 60yrs to 70 yrs onward
Habitual smokers are more likely to have an aneurysm than women or non smoking men. KIMS Doctors and experts recommend screening tests for a thoracic aneurysm for anyone who has a close relative who has had a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
If one has an aortic aneurysm, we recommend for ultrasound, a CT scan, and MRI. These tests will find out exactly where it is located and how big it is. Based on the results, our effective treatment will be aimed at curbing it completely once and for