What is an Aortic Aneurysm?
When you hear the word aneurysm you most likely think of the brain. While a brain aneurysm, or cerebral aneurysm, is the most commonly known, there are other types of aneurysms known as aortic aneurysms that occur in other parts of the body.
An aortic aneurysm occurs when the aorta becomes weakened and starts to bulge. This can lead to a thoracic aortic aneurysm in the chest area or an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which affects the abdomen, pelvis, or legs.
We’ll go over aortic aneurysms more in-depth and explain why they happen, what can increase your risk, and what you can do to lower your chances of experiencing an aortic aneurysm.
What Happens When You Have an Aortic Aneurysm?
When you have an aortic aneurysm, it means that the aorta has become weaker and swollen. The aorta is the large artery responsible for blood flow between the heart, chest, and torso area. When this artery starts to bulge, there is a risk for leaking or rupturing which can cause serious complications.
There are two types of aortic aneurysms:
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs when the aorta weakens and swells in the chest area. If the aneurysm is large or increases in size quickly, it has a higher risk of leaking or rupturing. This can be quite serious as it can lead to heavy bleeding and even death. If the aneurysm is small and doesn’t increase much in size over time, it can still rupture but the chances are much lower.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more common than the thoracic variety. This type of aneurysm occurs when the aorta bulges in the abdomen, pelvis, or legs.
What Increases Your Risk of Having an Aortic Aneurysm?
Certain factors can increase your risk of having an aortic aneurysm or experiencing complications from an existent aneurysm.
Risk factors of aortic aneurysms include:
- Age
- Gender
- Smoking
- Blood pressure
- Genetics
- Atherosclerosis
Age plays a role in aneurysm risk which increases as you get older, especially after age 65.
Gender can affect your risk of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm, with men being more vulnerable to having one. Men are also at a higher risk of death from leakage or rupture of this type of aneurysm.
Smoking can greatly increase your chances of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Nearly 75% of patients with this condition have had a history of smoking.
High blood pressure raises the risk of any health condition involving the blood vessels and aortic aneurysms are no exception.
Genetics can increase your risk of an aortic aneurysm if they are part of your family history. A history of Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disease, or a bicuspid aortic valve in your family can also raise your risk of having an aortic aneurysm. If you’re aware of this history in your family, get ahead of the game and visit with your doctor.
Atherosclerosis ups your risk of an aortic aneurysm since this condition involves a hardening of the arteries. This can weaken the aorta and lead to bulging.
How Do You Know if You May Have an Aortic Aneurysm?
The symptoms of many heart conditions are similar to one another so if you experience any of the symptoms listed below, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor. It could be a sign of an aortic aneurysm or another heart condition so it’s a good idea to get checked out.
Some possible signs of an aortic aneurysm are:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Throbbing pain in the back or side
- Pain in the groin, buttocks, or legs
- Chronic cough
- Hoarseness
If you have a thoracic aortic aneurysm, you may not experience any symptoms at all as these have a tendency to grow slowly. Many people have aneurysms without realizing it due to the lack of symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to get regular checkups with your doctor and fill them in on any symptoms you’re experiencing, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem.
How is an Aortic Aneurysm Treated?
If your doctor determines that you have an aortic aneurysm, there are a variety of treatment options based on your individual needs. If the aneurysm is small, your doctor may opt to monitor it with regular visits and keep an eye out for any changes in size. For larger aneurysms, surgery may be necessary to prevent leaks or ruptures.
If surgery isn’t deemed necessary and you’ll be having the aneurysm monitored, follow the steps in the next section to decrease your chances of a leak or rupture.
When an aortic aneurysm starts to leak or rupture, you may notice:
- Difficulty breathing
- Sharp pain in the upper back
- Chest pain (or in the jaw, neck, or arms)
- Trouble swallowing
If you have any of these symptoms, even if you haven’t been diagnosed with an aneurysm, you should seek immediate medical attention since a ruptured aortic aneurysm could be fatal.
How Can You Decrease Your Risk of Having an Aortic Aneurysm?
There are some actions you can take to decrease your risk of having an aortic aneurysm. If you already have one, you’ll want to focus on preventing a leak or rupture. Many of the recommendations for the prevention of aneurysms will also apply to lowering the risk of complications from existent aortic aneurysms.
Some actions you can take to lower your risk of having an aortic aneurysm or experiencing complications from one are:
- Quit smoking.
- Manage your blood pressure.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- Move your body each day.
- Reduce stress.
Quit smoking since it carries such a high risk of aortic aneurysm along with other cardiovascular conditions.
Manage your blood pressure by taking any prescribed medication and practicing stress relief techniques.
Eat a heart-healthy diet with plenty of fiber and healthy fats to promote proper blood flow and discourage vascular problems.
Move your body each day in whatever way you enjoy. Exercise improves circulation, promotes healthy weight, and can relieve stress, so practice some form of movement daily. Check with your doctor to make sure you’re healthy enough to exercise since intense physical exertion can be harmful to some.
Reducing stress is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind. Try to reduce any unnecessary stress in your life and practice relaxation exercises to help you deal with unavoidable stress. Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, and tai chi are all wonderful for this.
Summary
Now you know how soy can be beneficial for your physical and mental wellbeing. You also know the signals your body may be sending out to tell you that it needs some additional support for your cardiovascular health. You’ve seen how easy it can be to eat your way to a healthier heart. Adding more soy to your diet can help alleviate or prevent some of the symptoms of poor cardiovascular health.
While a healthy diet and lifestyle are extremely helpful for a strong cardiovascular system, it’s important to seek out professional care if the problem persists. If you’re experiencing symptoms of poor cardiovascular health that don’t respond to diet and lifestyle changes, contact us today to book an appointment.What is an Aortic Aneurysm?
