Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
The abdominal aorta is the main artery stemming from the heart and is the largest blood vessel in the body. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an enlargement in the lining of that blood vessel which occurs as the lining gets weaker, primarily due to age and other risk factors, the vessel wall becomes thinner and expands.
An aneurysm is most commonly located below the area where the aorta divides to supply blood to the kidneys and above where it divides to supply blood to the pelvis and legs.
Contributing factors that often lead to an abdominal aortic aneurysm include:
Controllable AAA Risk Factors:
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
Uncontrollable AAA Risk Factors: - Age
- Gender - men are more prone to this disease
- Family history
Symptoms can include:
- Intense back or abdominal pain
- Rapid pulse
- Nausea and vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- Shock
However Most people present no warning signs of AAA but if not discovered or treated, an aneurysm can rupture, resulting in fatality 80% of the time.
Once discovered, the diameter can be measured and monitored and, where possible, surgically corrected.
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