Essay On Aortic Dissection
Aortic Dissection
An aortic dissection is a tear in your aorta. The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood out of your heart to supply the rest of your body. It comes out of your heart and curves around, then goes down through your chest (thoracic aorta) and into your belly (abdominal aorta). The wall of the aorta has inner and outer layers.
Aortic dissection occurs most often in the thoracic aorta. This is more likely to happen if the inner layer of the aorta has a weak spot or gets injured. As the dissection widens and blood flows through it, the aorta becomes “double-barreled.” This means one part of the aorta continues to carry blood. However, the inner wall begins to separate from the rest of the aorta as blood flows through the tear. The torn part of the aorta fills with blood. It swells up like a balloon. This can reduce blood flow through the part of the aorta that is still working. …show more content…
Have a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Are born with a problem that affects either the aorta or the heart valve.
Have a condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels, such as giant cell arteritis.
Are male.
Are aged older than 60 years.
Use cocaine.
Smoke.
Lift very heavy weights or do other types of high-intensity resistance training.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of aortic dissection may come on suddenly. Changes in position may make symptoms worse. The most common symptoms are:
Severe chest pain that may feel like a tearing, stabbing, or sharp pain.
Pain that shifts to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, abdomen, or hips.
Other symptoms may include:
Severe abdominal pain.
Trouble breathing.
Dizziness or fainting.
Nausea or vomiting.
Trouble swallowing.
Sweating a lot.
Feeling confused, dazed, anxious, or fearful.
An aortic dissection is a tear in your aorta. The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood out of your heart to supply the rest of your body. It comes out of your heart and curves around, then goes down through your chest (thoracic aorta) and into your belly (abdominal aorta). The wall of the aorta has inner and outer layers.
Aortic dissection occurs most often in the thoracic aorta. This is more likely to happen if the inner layer of the aorta has a weak spot or gets injured. As the dissection widens and blood flows through it, the aorta becomes “double-barreled.” This means one part of the aorta continues to carry blood. However, the inner wall begins to separate from the rest of the aorta as blood flows through the tear. The torn part of the aorta fills with blood. It swells up like a balloon. This can reduce blood flow through the part of the aorta that is still working. …show more content…
Have a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Are born with a problem that affects either the aorta or the heart valve.
Have a condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels, such as giant cell arteritis.
Are male.
Are aged older than 60 years.
Use cocaine.
Smoke.
Lift very heavy weights or do other types of high-intensity resistance training.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of aortic dissection may come on suddenly. Changes in position may make symptoms worse. The most common symptoms are:
Severe chest pain that may feel like a tearing, stabbing, or sharp pain.
Pain that shifts to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, abdomen, or hips.
Other symptoms may include:
Severe abdominal pain.
Trouble breathing.
Dizziness or fainting.
Nausea or vomiting.
Trouble swallowing.
Sweating a lot.
Feeling confused, dazed, anxious, or fearful.