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Aortic aneurysm consists of dilation of the walls of the aorta, which is the largest artery in the human body and which carries arterial blood from the heart to all other parts. Depending on the location of the aorta that is affected, aortic aneurism can be divided into two types:
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm: appears in the thoracic segment of the aorta, that is, in the chest region;
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm: it is the most common type of aortic aneurysm and occurs below the chest region.
Although it does not cause any symptoms or health problems, the greatest risk of aortic aneurysm is its rupture, which can cause severe internal bleeding, putting life at risk within minutes.
Whenever an aneurysm or rupture of an aneurysm is suspected, it is very important to go to the hospital immediately, to carry out the necessary tests and start the appropriate treatment.
Main symptoms
In most cases, the aortic aneurysm does not generate any specific symptoms, being identified only during routine medical examinations, such as tomography, or when it ends up breaking.
However, if the aneurysm grows too much or affects more sensitive regions, more specific symptoms may appear:
1. Thoracic aortic aneurysm
In this type of aneurysm, some people can identify symptoms such as:
- Severe and severe pain in the chest or upper back;
- Feeling of shortness of breath;
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
This type of aneurysm is more common in people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or who have suffered some type of trauma.
2. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysm are more rare than those of the thoracic aorta, but can still occur:
- Sensation of pulsation in the abdomen;
- Severe pain in the back or in the lateral region;
- Pain in the buttocks, groin and legs.
This type of aneurysm is more common in older people, usually over the age of 65, who suffer from atherosclerosis. However, trauma and infections can also be causes.
Who is most at risk for aortic aneurysm?
The risk of developing an aortic aneurysm usually increases with age, and is more common in men over 65 years of age.
In addition, there are other factors that also seem to increase the risk, especially having some form of untreated disease, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or coronary heart disease.
How to confirm the diagnosis
To diagnose aortic aneurysm, the doctor may order some tests, mainly computed tomography, x-ray and echocardiogram, for example. Learn more about the tests that assess cardiovascular health.
If an aneurysm is identified in the exam images, the doctor usually evaluates other factors, such as the person's age, health history and the degree of development of the aneurysm, to determine the best form of treatment.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for aneurysms in the aorta varies according to the severity of the aneurysm, the region where it is and other diseases that the person may have.
Generally the most used forms of treatment are:
- Aneurysm smaller than 5.4 cm and without symptoms: only medical follow-up is carried out with regular examinations to assess the evolution of the aneurysm;
- Aneurysm larger than 5.5 cm, with symptoms or with progressive increase: surgery.
The surgery is performed with the objective of removing the part of the aorta that presents the aneurysm, being necessary in some cases the placement of a tube to replace the blood vessel.
How is recovery from surgery
Abdominal aneurysm surgery is considered a heart surgery and, therefore, the recovery time can vary between 2 to 3 months, and during this time, it is important to resume daily activities only after 6 weeks, with approval from the doctor and slowly and gradually.
In addition, during recovery it is also important to relax and avoid stressful situations, as they can increase blood pressure and cause some type of complication.
How to live with aneurysm
In cases where the aneurysm is small and only regular monitoring is maintained, the doctor may also prescribe the use of some mediations to lower blood pressure or cholesterol, for example, reducing the chances that the aneurysm will increase in size.
But in addition, it is also important to take some precautions on a daily basis such as:
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages;
- Take the medication prescribed by the doctor;
- Do regular physical activity;
- Decrease the consumption of salt and industrialized products;
- Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
This care helps to ensure better cardiovascular health, slowing the progression of the aneurysm and reducing the chances of rupture.Check out 10 foods that are good for cardiovascular health, and that should be included in the diet.