The largest vessel in the human body is the aorta. Its function is to carry blood from the heart to the head, arms, and down to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. When the walls of the aorta become weak they swell and bulge out like a small balloon. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a condition in which that part of the aorta in the abdomen becomes weak and swells like a balloon. It is a life-threatening condition and needs to be monitored closely.
Symptoms
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is generally hard to detect because in most cases it grows slowly without any symptoms. When a AAA ruptures, the symptoms are:
- Sudden pain in the abdomen or the back
- Increased heart rate
- Pain spreading from the abdomen or back to the legs or buttocks
- Sweaty skin
- Loss of consciousness
Causes
The exact cause for AAA is not known but there are various risk factors that can lead to the development of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. These are:
- High blood pressure
- Infection in the aorta
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- Blood vessel diseases
- Trauma such as accidents
- Smoking
- Family history
- High cholesterol
- Old age
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity
Treatment
The objective of the treatment is usually to prevent the AAA from rupturing. The treatment would often depend on the size and the speed at which the AAA is growing. If the abdominal aortic aneurysm is small and there are no symptoms then monitoring at regular intervals through ultrasounds is commonly prescribed. Also, if there are other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, treatment to manage them are generally prescribed. If the AAA is large and growing at a fast speed then surgery may be prescribed. Surgery options include open abdominal surgery and endovascular repair.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is a condition that can be fatal. To prevent AAA or to keep it from getting worse one should usually eat a healthy diet, quit tobacco products, keep healthy levels of blood pressure and cholesterol, and exercise regularly.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
Sources-
- https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm.html
- https://www.healthline.com/health/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm#treatments
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350688https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350688
