The aorta is the body's largest artery and carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The wall of the aorta is very elastic and can normally stretch and then shrink back as needed to adapt to blood flow. However, some medical conditions can weaken the arterial wall. These factors, along with the wear and tear that naturally occurs with aging, can result in a weak aortic wall that may stretch and bulge outwards. An aortic aneurysm is a stretched and bulging section in the wall of the aorta. A bulging or enlarged vessel is weakened and can burst or rupture, resulting in life-threatening bleeding. This condition is the 10th leading cause of death in men 65 to 74 years of age in the United States.
The January 24/31, 2007, issue of JAMA includes an article about aortic aneurysms caused by underlying inflammation (response to cellular injury).
Grahic Jump Location
Atherosclerosis—hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits within the lining of the artery wall
Genetics—inherited conditions that adversely affect the supporting connective tissues
Aging—the aorta becomes less elastic and stiffer with age
Smoking—90% of persons with aneurysms have smoked
Infections—can damage the lining of the heart and aorta
Inflammation—the aorta becomes inflamed and scarred
High blood pressure—distends the lining of the aorta
Trauma—falls or motor vehicle collisions can injure the aorta
Aortic aneurysms may be suspected or diagnosed by physical examination of the abdomen or by an imaging test. Tests to help determine the location, size, and rate of growth include
Abdominal ultrasound—imaging of the blood vessel by sound waves to track the growth and size of the aneurysm
Computed tomography (CT)—x-ray test to monitor the growth of the aneurysm
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—provides important information about related blood vessels and internal organs
Echocardiogram—an ultrasound test used to study the structure of the heart and aorta
Angiogram—study that can determine the size of the aneurysm and the presence of dissections (tears along the vessel wall) and blood clots
Treatment for an aneurysm depends on its size and location. If the aneurysm is small(less than 4.0 cm [1.6 in] in diameter) and you have no symptoms, your physician may advise a "watch-and-wait" approach with regularly scheduled examinations and imaging studies. Medications to lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure are reasonable approaches coupled with programs that help you exercise, quit smoking, and follow a heart-healthy diet. However, if your aneurysm is larger (more than 5.5 cm [2.2 in] in diameter) or if the aneurysm is growing more than 1 cm (0.4 in) per year, surgery may be the best treatment option.
American College of Surgeonshttp://www.facs.org
American College of Cardiologyhttp://www.acc.org
To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish.
Sources: American College of Surgeons, American College of Cardiology
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TOPIC: VASCULAR DISEASE
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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