WHAT IS AN ANEURYSM WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS AND TESTS TO DIAGNOSE ANEURYSM AND RISK FACTORS

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An aneurysm is a weakened and bulging area in an artery.The arteries are the blood vessels that carry the blood from the heart. The layers of the arteries can weaken and start to bulge. That bulge is called an aneurysm. A sudden tear in a layer is called a dissection. Risk factors for aneurysms include high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, cigarette smoking, Marfan's Syndrome and maybe weight lifting in some. Needless to say a sudden tear in an artery can have very serious consequences.

A surgeon at Yale has written about weight lifting,heavy exertion,high blood pressure and aneurysms Click here




The aorta is the large artery that carries the freshly pumped blood away from the heart's left ventricle and distributes it to the body. The aorta is the biggest of all the arteries and like the other arteries is composed of layers which makes sense when you consider that arteries carry blood under pressure versus veins which usually carry blood returning to the heart.













A big problem is that abdominal aortic aneurysms may not have symptoms, not be detectable on physical examination, and are discovered during radiologic testing for other reasons. Tobacco use, hypertension (blood pressure), a family history of aneurysms, Marfan's Syndrome and male sex are risk factors for an aneurysm. Most people have no symptoms. When an aneurysm leaks or tears you might feel

Sudden pain in your abdomen, groin, back, legs or buttocks

Nausea and vomiting

Abnormal stiffness in your abdominal muscles

Swelling or bulging in one area of your abdomen

Clammy skin

More about detecting and tests for aneurysms