The word aneurysm comes from a Greek word meaning ‘to dilate’ and is used to describe a widening of a blood vessel where the wall of the vessel is weakened and bulges out as blood flows through it. Aneurysms occur anywhere in the body and are more common in arteries than veins.
What exactly causes aneurysms is unclear; however some of the risk factors for an arterial aneurysm (AA) are: smoking, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, congenital weakening of the arteries and a family history of aneurysms. What sex and age you are has a bearing too. Addressing some of these factors now can help lower your risk.
Two common areas that AA’s can be found are the abdominal area and brain. Men are five times more at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm than women, and the older a person is, the more likely they will develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Whereas brain aneurysms (often called intracranial or cerebral aneurysms) affect more women than men and each year only 1 in 12,500 rupture. Interestingly, anger can be a risk factor in rupturing a brain aneurysm!
Most AA’s are symptomless unless, as they grow, they start to press on surrounding structures or rupture. See below for some possible symptoms of not ruptured and ruptured AA’s.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Not ruptured
A vibrating feeling in your abdomen, usually near your belly button, that’s usually only noticeable when you touch it
Pain in the abdomen, back, loin or groin
If you are very slim you may notice an abdominal lump
Ruptured
Pain in middle/side of abdomen, in men pain can also radiate down into the scrotum
Dizziness
Cold and sweaty
Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
Shortness of breath
Faintness
Loss of consciousness
Low blood pressure
Cerebral Aneurysm
Not ruptured
Visual disturbances, i.e. loss of vision/double vision
Difficulties moving one of your eyes
Pain on one side of your face or around your eye
Inability to move some facial muscles; usually only one side of your face is affected
Headaches
Seizures (fits)
Ruptured
Sudden, severe headache likened to being hit on the head
Stiff neck
Feeling/being sick
Slurred speech
Sensitivity to light
Blurred or double vision
Mental confusion
Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Weakness/paralysis of an arm or leg
Treatment and surgery for aneurysms depend on whether the aneurysm has ruptured or not and what size and shape it is and where it is located.
Lisa Boulton is the Medical Director of Amethyst Health Screening, a local company which carries out health checks and cardiovascular risk assessments for Lincoln residents and local businesses. She contributes on health-related topics for The Lincolnite.
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Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
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