Abdominal Aortic Anuerysm Definition: An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. Because the aorta is the body's main supplier of blood, a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause life threatening bleeding. Symptoms:
As an abdominal aortic aneurysm enlarges, some people may notice:
A pulsating feeling near the navel
Deep, constant pain in your abdomen or on the side of your abdomen
Back pain
Abdominal aortic aneurysms grow slow without symptoms, making them difficult to detect. Some aneurysms will never rupture. Many start small and stay small, although many expand over time. Others expand quickly. Predicting how fast an abdominal aortic aneurysm may enlarge is difficult. When to see a doctor
If you are age 60 and older who is at risk for developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm, such as smoking or a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm ,You should have a regular screening done. Being male and smoking increases the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm. If you have a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, your doctor may recommend an ultrasound exam to screen for the condition. Men ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked cigarettes should have a one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm using abdominal ultrasound.
Most aortic aneurysms happen in the part of your aorta that's in your abdomen. Although the exact cause of abdominal aortic aneurysms is unknown, Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis occurs...