Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Aneurysm results when the walls of an artery get weak and result in the abnormal large bulge. The bulge can be responsible for the rupture and bleeding inside the artery. An aortic aneurysm can occur in any part of the but it mostly happens in:
- Brain
- Aorta
- Legs
- Spleen
Causes
There are certain factors which have been found responsible for the aneurysm, however exact cause is still unclear.
The tissues that get damaged inside the arteries plays a definite role. Blockages due to fatty deposits can also be a reason. The blockages can cause the heart to work harder for pushing the blood against them.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the disease in which a plaque gets buildup inside the arteries. This substance is quite hard and blocks the flow of blood. People suffering from atherosclerosis have good chances to get an aortic aneurysm.
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a vital reason for aortic aneurysm. If the blood pressure is above the normal rate, then it can enlarge and weaken the arteries.
Symptoms
Aortic aneurysm begins very slowly. At the initial phase, you wouldn’t even observe the symptoms. As they progress, the chances of rupture get also increase. The ruptured aneurysms symptoms are:
- Bleeding
- Rapid heart rate
- Pain
- Dizziness
Risk Factors
The common risk factors for the aneurysm are:
- Age above 60
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Family history of Aneurysms
- Pregnancy
Diagnosis
In an aortic aneurysm, the treatment criteria are needed to decide. If the size of the aorta becomes double of the normal size then the treatment is needed else there will be a risk of the rupture of it.
For Thorax size should be more than 5.5cm.
For aneurysm size should be more than 5 cm.
In some cases, even patients with the small size of aneurysm require the treatment. In females particularly, presence of elements like calcium, plus other symptoms along with bulge and an infective aneurysm may require early treatment.