Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms

It very hard to tell Aortic aneurysms symptoms because they are often symptomless.

However, you have family members that suffered from aortic aneurysms; it's a good idea to have a special check up every few years that includes an ultrasound to find if you have any. The reason for this is that the predisposition to aortic aneurysms symptoms tends to occur in families and often is genetic.

In order to understand when and why the aortic aneurysms symptoms either occur or remain silent, you have to understand what aortic aneurysms are. An aneurysm is a weak spot on an artery. The weak spot, like a weak spot on a tire, begins to bulge making the walls of the artery thinner. The problem with this is that, just like a weak spot on a tire, eventually it blows or ruptures and massive bleeding occurs.

When the aneurysm is on the aorta, the largest artery in the body, it disrupts the flow of blood to all other body parts. The aorta carries blood from the left ventricle of the heart to all the other branch arteries. Sometimes, the aneurysm can leak and cause damage to the valves of the heart.

The Location of the Aortic Aneurysm

The location of the bulge on the artery identifies the type of aortic aneurysm and the symptoms. Aortic aneurysm symptoms are different, depending on whether the aneurysm occurs in the chest or abdomen.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms tend to have more symptoms than those in the chest, thoracic aortic aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysms also are far more dangerous because of their location. Once they burst, there is little resistance to slow the flow of blood and the patient has a smaller chance of survival than those with thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Symptoms of aortic aneurysms that occur in the abdomen include pain in the abdomen; lower back, chest, legs or buttocks. The pain often seems aching, deep, gnawing and may throb. It can last for hours or days but moving doesn't affect it. Some positions may seem more comfortable than other positions if this pain occurs.

Sometimes people with abdominal aortic aneurysm symptoms feel a pulsating sensation in their stomach. They may also have a fever or weight loss if the aneurysm becomes inflamed. Other complications of an aortic aneurysm, besides bursting, include "cold foot." This is a condition where a blood clot that develops in the aneurysm breaks off and stops the flow of blood to the legs and feet. Normally those under the age of fifty tend to have more symptoms show up when they have an abdominal aortic aneurysm than those over the age of fifty.

Even though most people don't have symptoms from thoracic aortic aneurysms, there are some. Some people feel chest pain that is throbbing, aching and deep. Normally, this is the most common thoracic aortic aneurysm symptom. Others may experience a cough with the aneurysm or shortness of breath, depending on the location. This occurs if the aneurysm is close to the lungs. Hoarseness, while uncommon, and difficulty swallowing or pain while swallowing, are also some symptoms of aortic aneurysms in the chest area.

The problem with most of the symptoms of aortic aneurysm, if there are any, is that they mimic other problems, such as coronary artery disease or even peptic ulcers. Many people that experience the symptoms of aortic aneurysms ignore them or think of them as inconsequential. That is, of course, until the aneurysm bursts.

When an aortic aneurysm symptoms bursts, a whole series of new symptoms occurs. The patient may experience extreme pain or pressure in the area of the aneurysm. They definitely know that something is dramatically wrong. Because of the loss of blood, there can be a drop in blood pressure and immediate signs of shock.

The location of the bleed greatly affects the survival of the patient with an aortic aneurysm. Patients that have blood flowing into the abdomen don't have the pressure on the aorta to help slow the flow of blood. Some aneurysms occur near the heart sack. Occasionally the bleed goes into the sack of the heart and slows the heart's pumping action. This also slows the blood flow and adds greatly to the potential survival of the patient.

If you know of a family history of aortic aneurysms make it a point to have at least one check for a potential aneurysm. Of course, you may not show a problem until later in life, so repeated checks are of great importance. Most people show no aortic aneurysms symptoms until the aneurysm bursts.

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