Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
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GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is it? The aorta is a large blood vessel that extends down the center of your chest and abdomen (stomach). Over time, the walls of the aorta may become weak and stretch out like a balloon. Weakness and stretching of the section of aorta that runs through the abdomen is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AN-u-rizm). This type of aneurysm is also called a "triple A" or an "AAA".
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What causes an AAA? An AAA may be caused by things that weaken the walls of the aorta. You may be at higher risk of getting an AAA if:
- You have atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries". This problem is caused by plaque. Plaque is a hard layer of fatty build-up in the arteries.
- You smoke.
- You have high blood pressure, or long-term health problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Someone else in your family has had an AAA.
- You are a man over the age of 65 years. Anyone can get an AAA, but older men are at higher risk.
What are the symptoms of an AAA?
- You may have no symptoms at all.
- You may feel pain in the middle or lower part of the left side of your abdomen. This pain may come and go or be felt all the time.
- You may feel pain in your lower back.
- You or caregivers may feel a mass or lump that beats (like a heartbeat) in your abdomen.
How is an AAA diagnosed and treated? An AAA is a serious problem that must be treated by a caregiver. You may need special tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI. These tests can show your caregivers how big and exactly where your aneurysm is. Treatment of your AAA may depend on your age, the type and size of your AAA, and your health. If the aneurysm is small and not painful, you may be watched by caregivers but need no treatment. You may need one or more of the following treatments:
- Medicine: You may be given medicine to stop your AAA from growing larger. You may need medicine to treat other problems such as high blood pressure or high blood lipids (fats).
- Quit smoking: Smoking may cause your AAA to grow larger and get worse. It can also increase your risk of having a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.
- Surgery: You may need surgery to repair your AAA. Caregivers may use a man-made graft to bypass the AAA and make the blood vessel stronger.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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