Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms

Aorta is one of the largest arteries of the body, through which, the blood passes from heart to the rest of the body. Aneurysm is a term derived from Greek word 'aneurysma' which means widening or dilation. Thus, aortic aneurysm means an enlargement or widening of the aorta. It usually affects a small part of the aorta and the basic reason for it, is the weakening of a part of the aorta. The pressure exerted by the blood flowing though it, causes the weak spot to swell. The swelling is initially small and grows as the pressure increases. The condition of aortic aneurysm is dangerous as it may lead to a rupturing of the aorta, which in turn, leads to internal bleeding complications.

The early stages of aortic aneurysm are often devoid of any symptom. It mostly gets diagnosed by chance, when a person goes for medical examination for some other reason. However, as the complication progresses, the symptoms keep on getting noticeable.

Symptoms of Aortic Aneurysm

Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms
When the affected aorta swells to a critical size or breaks, an unusual ripping or tearing pain is felt in the upper chest or back. Along with chest and back pain, increase in sweating and rate of heartbeats is also noticed. The blood from the ruptured aorta travels in the body and settles down at any part, as a blood clot. This blood clot can obstruct the normal flow of blood to any structure of the body, and further complicate the problem. In some cases, such dissecting aortic aneurysm symptoms are accompanied with shortness of breath, dizziness and shock. Many patients of ruptured aortic aneurysm frequently complain of a strong pulse in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting and a feeling of fullness even after eating a very small amount of food.

Now let us look at the symptoms of aortic aneurysm according to its two types.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms
The aorta from the arch to the diaphragm is called thoracic aorta. The symptoms of thoracic aortic aneurysm are most prominent when the aorta attains a curved shape. The symptoms of thoracic aortic aneurysm include recurring sharp chest pain, upper back pain and fast breathing if the aneurysm occurs in the area of the lungs. In some cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm, hoarseness in voice and difficulty in swallowing food are also noticed. Thoracic aortic aneurysm is always at risk of bursting and rupturing, and hence is life-threatening. If the aneurysm breaks out, an extreme fall in blood pressure along with shock is observed. Such a condition needs immediate medical intervention or else it may result in death.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms
The part of aorta that starts from diaphragm and runs till it splits to form the common iliac arteries is known as abdominal aorta. The function of abdominal aorta is to provide oxygenated blood to the abdominal and pelvic structures in the body. Therefore, aneurysm occurring in abdominal aorta leads to discomfort in the abdomen, chest, lower back, groin, legs, buttocks and the area over the kidneys called the flank. The most common abdominal aortic aneurysm symptom is pain in the above given body parts. The intensity of pain may range from mild to sharp, and is usually not affected by movements. However, certain sitting and lying postures may be more comfortable than the others. According to many patients of this disorder, a high pulsating sensation is felt in the abdomen. In case of rupturing, blood circulation to lower portion of the body gets badly affected, resulting in cold and tingling feet. Younger people are more prone to this type of aneurysm.

Aortic aneurysm is dangerous to life. However, the condition can be treated well if diagnosed in its initial stages. Anyone who is over the age 55, smokes, or has a similar family history is at a higher risk of developing it, than others. If a person observes the above given aortic aneurysm symptoms in himself, such a person should visit a doctor for regular screening for this condition. Always remember, prevention is better than cure, and it holds especially true for aortic aneurysm.