Introduction
What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It extends from the chest to the abdomen, where it branches into the iliac arteries. The iliac arteries carry blood to lower parts of the body and to the legs. Sometimes with aging or other changes, a section of the aorta may weaken and begin to bulge.
This bulge can enlarge over time as the walls of the aorta become thinner and stretch (like a balloon). This bulge in the aorta is called an aneurysm.
Sometimes an aneurysm occurs in the part of the aorta that runs through the abdomen (the stomach). This is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Is this a serious condition?
In its early stages, when an AAA is small, it may not pose an immediate health risk. However, your doctor will want to check its condition regularly.
In later stages, if the AAA continues to grow, the aorta's walls can become thin and lose their ability to stretch. The weakened sections of the aortic wall may become unable to support the force of blood flow. Such an aneurysm could burst, causing serious internal bleeding.
What are some of the symptoms of an AAA?
Unfortunately, in most cases patients have no symptoms of an AAA. For people who do have symptoms, the most common one is pain. The pain can be in the abdomen, back or chest. It could be anything from a mild pain to a severe pain or tenderness in the mid or upper abdomen or lower back. Some patients feel the aneurysm as a pulsating or throbbing mass in their abdomen. Many patients feel none of these symptoms, yet may still have an AAA.
An AAA is often discovered during an examination being done for other medical reasons. Your doctor may feel a bulge or pulsation (throbbing) in your abdomen. Most often, aneurysms are found during a medical test such as a CT Scan or ultrasound.
If you know you have an AAA and you develop back pain, abdominal pain or dizziness, call your doctor immediately.
What causes an AAA?
Over time, vascular disease, injury, or a hereditary defect of tissue within the arterial wall can cause a weakening of the aorta. Blood pressure against the weakened area can cause ballooning (enlarging and thinning) of the aorta.
Risk factors for developing an aneurysm include family history, smoking, heart disease and high blood pressure. If you are at risk for developing an aneurysm, your doctor may recommend periodic checks. The checks could include a physical exam and possibly a CT Scan or ultrasound.