Aortic Aneurysm: Who Is at Risk for This Disease?

Aortic aneurysm is a condition that many people may not realize they are facing, but it can have serious effects on health. If left untreated for a long time without appropriate care, it may lead to severe consequences. Understanding the causes, symptoms, diagnostic methods, as well as treatment approaches will help increase the chance of recognizing warning signs of this disease before the condition becomes too severe.

Key Takeaways

• An aortic aneurysm is a condition in which the aorta abnormally enlarges, with a risk of rupture or leakage.

• Aortic aneurysm often does not show symptoms in the early stage, but when symptoms appear, there may be chest tightness or sudden severe abdominal pain, which is often a sign that the condition is near critical.

• Aortic aneurysm is caused by degeneration of the vessel wall, atherosclerosis, as well as certain behaviors that accelerate deterioration of the vessel wall, such as smoking.

• Doctors can use physical examination and imaging tests such as X-ray, CT Scan, or ultrasound to detect this disease.

• If the aneurysm is not severe, behavioral control can be used for management, but if there is a risk of rupture, open surgery or catheter-based intervention must be considered.

What is an Aortic Aneurysm?

An aortic aneurysm is a condition in which the wall of the aorta, which carries blood from the heart to various organs, expands abnormally, similar to a balloon slowly inflating inside the body. This change occurs without clear signals in the early stage, but if left until the aortic wall becomes thin and weak, it may risk rupture or leakage, which is a dangerous condition and may be life-threatening. The types of aneurysm can be divided into 2 main groups:

1. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is the most common form, usually occurring in the lower part of the aorta that runs through the abdomen. This area receives high blood pressure and continuous pulsatile flow, making the vessel wall more prone to dilation.
2. Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) is less common than the abdominal type but may be associated with heart disease, infected heart valves, or chronic atherosclerosis, causing the vessel wall in the chest area to be at risk of dilation as well.

Who is at risk of aortic aneurysm?

Aortic aneurysm is a health problem that does not show symptoms in the early stage, but if left undetected, it may have life-threatening consequences. People at risk often have multiple contributing factors, including behavior, health, and genetics, as follows:

• People who smoke regularly accelerate deterioration of the vessel wall, increasing the chance of rupture or aneurysm more than in the general population.

• People with lung problems, respiratory diseases such as emphysema, may cause body tissues to deteriorate more easily, including the vessel wall.

• People with a family history of aneurysm, especially close relatives such as parents or siblings, have increased risk.

• People with chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, especially conditions directly related to the vascular system, may cause long-term deterioration of the vessel wall leading to aneurysm.

• People with atherosclerosis or heart disease, where vessels become hardened or fatty deposits accumulate along the vessel wall, reducing elasticity and increasing the risk of aneurysm.

• People with certain genetic disorders, such as Marfan Syndrome, often have tall stature, long limbs, severe myopia, or a high-arched palate, and have weaker connective tissue including vessel walls, thus having a higher chance of aortic aneurysm than the general population.

Symptoms of Aortic Aneurysm to Be Aware Of!

Aortic aneurysm often has no symptoms in the early stage and is often detected incidentally, such as from X-ray or ultrasound. When the aorta is tearing or near rupture, symptoms begin to appear, which is an emergency condition requiring immediate treatment. Symptoms include:

• Sudden pain in the chest, back, or abdomen

• Chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, vomiting

• Loss of consciousness, coughing up blood

• Difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness

• A pulsating mass palpable in the abdomen

Causes of Aortic Aneurysm and Risk Factors

• Aortic aneurysm is a condition caused by multiple contributing factors, mostly related to degeneration of the vessel wall with increasing age and conditions affecting body tissues. Important factors that increase risk include:

• Increasing age, as the body degenerates, the vessel wall weakens accordingly

• Hypertension, causing vessels to withstand higher-than-normal pressure, increasing risk of aneurysm in addition to other effects of high blood pressure

• High blood lipids, leading to fatty plaque accumulation in vessel walls and reducing elasticity

• Smoking, one of the major causes accelerating vascular degeneration

• Genetics, if family members have had aortic aneurysm, increasing the likelihood in the next generation

• Connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome, affecting the strength of vessel walls

• Vascular inflammation from autoimmune diseases or certain infections such as syphilis

• Severe trauma, especially impacts to the chest or abdomen, which may damage the vessel wall leading to aneurysm

How is Aortic Aneurysm Diagnosed?

Aortic aneurysm can be detected through medical technologies that help assess vessel size and potential risk, using the following methods:

1. Medical history and physical examination. The doctor begins by asking about basic symptoms such as chest tightness, back pain, or related symptoms, then performs a physical examination to look for warning signs such as a pulsating abdominal mass for diagnosis.
2. Chest or abdominal X-ray (Chest/Abdominal X-ray) to examine the overall structure of the aorta; abnormalities may show as an enlarged vessel shadow.
3. Ultrasound, especially when abdominal aortic aneurysm is suspected; this method provides real-time imaging of the vessel.
4. CT Scan, which can accurately measure vessel size and clearly show aneurysm details; suitable for monitoring progression or planning treatment.

How is Aortic Aneurysm Treated?

Treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm and the risk of rupture. It can be divided into 2 main approaches, with doctors selecting based on each patient’s suitability:

• Monitoring and behavior modification. If the aneurysm is not enlarging rapidly or has low risk, doctors will schedule periodic follow-up and recommend controlling behaviors as follows:

Control blood pressure

Stop smoking

Avoid straining or lifting heavy objects

Attend regular follow-up appointments

• Surgical treatment. In cases where the aneurysm enlarges rapidly or has a high risk of rupture, heart surgery may be required. There are 2 main types:

Open surgery. The doctor opens the chest or abdomen to reach the aneurysmal aorta, removes the abnormal section, and replaces it with a synthetic graft to restore normal blood flow. This method is suitable for patients with relatively good overall health, as recovery takes longer than other methods.

Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR). The doctor punctures a vessel in the groin and inserts a stent graft into the aorta through a catheter and guidance system. When it reaches the aneurysm site, the graft expands and attaches to the vessel wall, allowing blood to flow through a new channel. This helps reduce some complications and requires a shorter recovery time than open surgery.

Do Not Leave Aortic Aneurysm Untreated—Seek Treatment Promptly

Aortic aneurysm is a condition that may progress without symptoms in the early stage, but if neglected or not properly managed, it may lead to severe complications such as rupture, which directly affects life. Regular monitoring and evaluation by a specialist are important and should not be overlooked as soon as the condition is suspected.

For convenient and targeted care, it is recommended to receive services at the Praram 9 Heart and Vascular Institute, which provides diagnostic services and treatment with medical technologies, both surgical and non-surgical, under the care of a specialized cardiovascular medical team who consider the suitability of treatment approaches for each case closely.

For more information

• Praram 9 Cardiovascular Institute Tel. 02-202-9889

• Call Center Tel. 1270

• Facebook : Praram 9 Hospital International & Expats

• Line : @Praram9Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions About Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms

1. Why is the aorta important to the human body?

The aorta is the main vessel that carries blood from the heart to organs throughout the body. If abnormalities occur, such as an aortic aneurysm, it may affect the circulatory system and increase the risk of rupture, potentially leading to complications such as heart failure.

2. How to take care of heart health to keep the aorta strong?

Avoid smoking, exercise regularly, control blood pressure, and consume heart-healthy foods to effectively reduce the risk of aneurysm and other vascular diseases.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). About aortic aneurysm. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/aortic-aneurysm.html

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Aortic aneurysm: Symptoms, causes & treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16742-aorta-aortic-aneurysm

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Aortic aneurysm—Causes and risk factors. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/aortic-aneurysm/causes

National Health Service. (2023, June 14). Abdominal aortic aneurysm. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/