An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery wall that can cause severe, often fatal bleeding, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. They form when a weakness in the wall of the artery balloons out under pressure from the blood inside. If not treated, aneurysms can burst, causing dangerous bleeding. Aneurysms are most common in the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the entire body. About 14,000 Americans die each year from aortic aneurysms.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
There are two main kinds of aortic aneurysms that cause different symptoms, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. An abdominal aortic aneurysm can develop slowly over many years without causing symptoms but a doctor may feel a throbbing mass when he checks the patient's abdomen. Other early symptoms include a throbbing sensation in the abdomen, pain in the back or side of the abdomen and a steady, gnawing abdominal pain that lasts for hours or even days. If the aneurysm bursts, symptoms include sudden, severe pain in the lower abdomen or back; nausea and vomiting; cold, sweaty skin; dizziness and a rapid heart beat. These symptoms indicate a medical emergency and require urgent treatment.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms
A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs in the chest and often causes no symptoms until it bursts, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Early warning signs, if they occur, could include pain in the jaw, neck, back or chest; coughing or hoarseness; or difficulty breathing or swallowing. Sometimes a person coughs up blood. Once a thoracic aortic aneurysm starts to bleed, there may be sudden, severe pain in the upper back that spreads to the abdomen, chest or arms. The patient may go into shock. This is an emergency condition that requires an ambulance.
Vital Signs
In about 66 percent of patients, an aortic aneurysm that has begun to bleed may cause the pulse in the arms and legs to weaken or disappear, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Also, sometimes doctors can hear a murmur when they use a stethoscope if the aneurysm is near the heart. If a patient with an aneurysm makes it to the hospital, his vital signs--pulse, blood pressure and breathing--will be monitored to help check his progress.
Risk Factors
Some people are at higher risk for an aneurysm and could benefit from screening, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. If detected early, aneurysms are treatable. People who have a family history of aortic aneurysm have a greater chance of developing one, as do people who have been in car accidents or suffered other trauma. Certain diseases increase the risk, including high blood pressure; atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries; vasculitis; certain infections like syphilis; some genetic conditions including Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Smoking can increase the risk of aneurysm as does aging.
