Posts Tagged ‘Aneurysms’

Understand Aneurysms

Monday, June 1st, 2009

 

 What Exactly Is An Aneurysm?

Your arteries perform a critical job: they transport blood from your heart to all other areas throughout your body. Under normal circumstances, the arterial wall is strong enough to support the corresponding blood pressure. However, if those walls weaken, a rupture or dissection can occur. These are called aneurysms. While they typically happen in the aorta, they can also happen within the brain.

If a rupture occurs, it can lead to bleeding within your body. On the other hand, a dissection manifests as a tear in one of the arterial layers. If that happens, the bleeding will spread within the layers of the wall. If a patient does not receive immediate medical attention, both circumstances can be fatal.

In this article we will discuss the factors and risk that can lead to aneurysms. We will discus the signs of aneurysms, what to check for and treatment options.

Causes And Risk Factors

While ruptures and dissections occur as a result of arterial wall weakening, it is worth reviewing the conditions which ultimately lead to such weakening. High blood pressure is a leading factor. So, too, is age. Smoking plays an influential role, of course. Many doctors also believe genetics can be a factor.

Occasionally, patients who are suffering from specific disorders (for example, Loeys-Dietz syndrome or Marfan syndrome) are more susceptible to experiencing an aneurysm. These conditions and others can damage the aorta leading to a weakening in the arterial wall.

Potential Warning Signs

Most individuals have the impression of aneurysms, they often imagine an immediate excruciating pain lancing through them. In truth, some people develop them without realizing it until years later. If one ruptures in the abdominal area, the symptoms are rapid; they include vomiting, a lightheaded sensation, and severe pain. If a dissection does happen in the thoracic area of your body, you will feel pain throughout your chest, back and jaw. It may also be difficult to breathe or swallow.

Medical Treatment

As noted above, if a rupture or dissection occurs, it is life-threatening and must be treated immediately. Otherwise, most types of medical treatment seek to prevent an existing aneurysm from becoming larger. Doing so can prevent a rupture or dissection.

A specialist will often prescribe medicine (for example, beta blockers) in order to lower the patient’s blood pressure. If there is a risk that an aneurysm is getting larger quickly, surgery may be necessary. In most cases, the problematic portion of the aorta is removed and a graft is put in its place. Assuming the patient is in relatively good health, a full recovery is expected.

It is crucial that once this is diagnosed that the patient maintain a regular check-up schedule with their physician. The earlier and more consistently it can be treated, the less likelihood of experiencing a life-threatening situation.

Published by Heart Wellness Store

Other Relevant Posts: 

Understanding Your Blood Pressure Reading

Left untreated, high blood pressure can causes aneurysms, or bulges, in blood vessels. If left alone, high blood pressure may also cause kidney damage as well as strokes and heart attacks. Knowing what your blood pressure reading is can …  

Cardiovascular disease 101: Understanding heart and blood vessel …

Diseases ranging from aneurysms to valve disease are types of cardiovascular disease. You may be born with some types of cardiovascular disease (congenital) or acquire others later on, usually from a lifetime of unhealthy habits, …   

Clinical and Endovascular Follow-Up of …

It is very interesting to read how these approaches have evolved over the last 14 years at the authors’ institution. This article is vitally important in furthering our understanding of endovascular therapy of ruptured aneurysms.   

Endovascul Stent – Grafts For the Treatment Of Abdominal Aaortic …

Abdominal aortic aneurysm – endovascular stent-grafts: understanding NICE guidance; Abdominal aortic aneurysm – endovascular stent-grafts: … .

 Improve Understanding of Cerebral Aneurysms…

Patient-Specific Simulation to Improve Understanding of Cerebral Aneurysms.   

Cardiovascular Disease 101: Understanding Heart and Blood Vessel …

Diseases ranging from aneurysms to valve disease are types of cardiovascular disease. You may be born with some types of cardiovascular disease (congenital) or acquire others later on, usually from a lifetime of unhealthy habits, …

Study in Nature Medicine Establishes Major New Treatment …

AAA leads to 15000 deaths a year, mostly in aging men, when aneurysms rupture to spill blood into the abdomen, a fatal event in 90 percent of cases. Adding to the study’s importance, AAA shares vital biochemical pathways with …  

Cardiovascular Research Programme Is Funded By The Biomedical ...

A £750000 research programme to increase understanding of why arteries stiffen and how this stiffening contributes to cardiovascular disease, as well as to potentially identify new medical treatments, has been funded by the …  

Blood Stress Overview!

Increased danger since aortic aneurysms • Increased prospects because eye mar with passing away of vision. That’s slightly a listing of likelihood vitality-ominous vigor subject. You got to pick up your blood pressure as well as unearth …   

Extended details about Aortic Aneurysm can be found at the Virginia Thoracic Surgeons website at http://www.cvtsa.com


Related Blogs

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,