One of the pillars of our practice is treating our patients with vascular problems to the best of our ability, and diagnosing internal conditions that may alter their lives. One of these illnesses we frequently come across is that of the different types of aneurysms, and how we classify them.
One of these is the abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a dilated and weakened area that’s located in the wall of a blood vessel, most commonly an artery. This area then expands like a balloon as the walls become thinner and stop stretching, which increases the risk of the aneurysm rupturing and causing internal bleeding.
This condition can be life-threatening, as it leaves the patient at a great risk of death or in a critical state, so it’s important to understand how an aneurysm can affect the body, as many types of aneurysms exist attacking different parts of the body.
While aneurysms can happen anywhere in the body, such as the brain or in other essential organs, abdominal aortic aneurysms commonly happen anywhere in the aorta, which is the largest artery in the body and carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Some symptoms that can signal an aneurysm is starting to develop usually either begin small but grow over time, In other cases, the patient presents the disease suddenly, which is why it is important to have preventive check-ups.
Some of the most common symptoms are:
- Pain in the back or abdomen, which can be intense, sudden, or persistent
- Fatigue and fainting
- Cold sweat or shivering
- Vertigo
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fast heartbeat
Risk factors and causes for this illness include but aren’t limited to:
- Excessive tobacco use
- High blood pressure
- Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Blood vessel diseases
- Age or family history
- Infection in the aorta
- COPD
- Trauma or injury
- Other related aneurysms
Preventing abdominal aortic aneurysms from occurring can be done by maintaining a healthy diet and weight, as well as avoiding tobacco products and getting regular exercise. We invite you to schedule preventive appointments with Soleil Surgical, where we have the knowledge and expertise to treat vascular conditions with the compassion and security made just for you, and make your consultation a gratifying experience.
You can contact us by calling at (407) 343-4983, or visit our website to learn more about our services.