Your ascending aorta is a large artery attached to your heart that is vital for cardiovascular health. Aneurysm, or rupture, of such a large blood vessel can be deadly. Selenium, in small amounts, is an essential mineral for your body. It has strong antioxidant properties helpful for protecting your blood vessels from free radical damage. Selenium deficiency is linked to heart disease and cardiovascular problems such as aneurysm. Supplementing with selenium may be helpful to reduce your risk of cardiovascular problems, but too much can cause toxicity. Consult with your doctor about safe amounts of selenium.
Ascending Aorta
Your ascending aorta is a portion of the aorta beginning at the upper part of the left ventricle; it is a thickly muscled part of your heart meant to handle strong contractions. The total length of the ascending aorta is about 5 cm and it gives rise to two coronary arteries, which supply parts of your heart with blood, according to “Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Other sections of the aorta include the descending aorta and the abdominal aorta.
Aortic Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a general term for a swelling, dilation, weakening and thinning of the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can occur in essentially any blood vessel and lead to rupture, especially if blood pressure is high. If an aneurysm ruptures, circulation is disrupted and the consequences can be severe if it happens in a location as important as the ascending aorta. Early stages of an aortic aneurysm often display no noticeable symptoms, but ruptures cause severe pain in the chest, midback and abdomen due to massive internal hemorrhage, according to the “Textbook for Functional Medicine.” Distended blood vessels as large as the aorta are often detectable by medical imaging. Strict blood pressure control is important for preventing aneurysms from rupturing.
Importance of Selenium
Selenium helps prevent oxidative stress in blood vessels and other tissues by working together with a group of nutrients to prevent free radicals from becoming too reactive and damaging. According to “Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease,” other nutrients that work with selenium include vitamins B-3, C and E, and glutathione. Low intake of selenium and these other nutrients is linked to blood vessel damage and heart disease, although specific cause and effect regarding ascending aortic aneurysm is not well understood and may involve other factors. Other cardiovascular problems associated with selenium deficiency include irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations, deterioration of the heart muscle, congestive heart failure and sudden heart attacks.
Cautions
Selenium can cause toxic symptoms when taken in excess. Upper tolerable levels of selenium are assumed to be 400 micrograms daily for adults. Symptoms of toxicity include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, skin lesions and fingernail loss. Selenium toxicity is not usually caused by consuming foods, but rather supplementation. Your doctor may advise against selenium if you are taking certain drugs.
References
- “Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine”; A. Fauci, et al.; 2008
- “Textbook for Functional Medicine”; David S. Jones; 2005
- “Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease”; Eric Newsholme, et al.; 2010
