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Aneurysm: Symptoms, causes and treatment

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What is an Aneurysm?

An aneurysm occurs when a part of an artery’s wall is weak, allowing it to balloon or widen abnormally. It can occur anywhere in the circulatory system but usually develops at the point where a blood vessel branches. The most common location of the aneurysm is found along the aorta. 

Types of Aneurysms

There are three main types of aneurysms:  

  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm: It happens in the chest region affecting the aorta. thoracic aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic. When it ruptures causes symptoms, such as breathlessness, swelling of the arms, swallowing difficulties, and hoarseness of the voice. 
  • Cerebral aneurysm: It occurs in the weekend blood vessel in the brain and leads to the bulge out. This is known as a berry aneurysm or saccular. Symptoms included seizures, severe headache, paralysis, and visual and speech problems. 
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm:  It affects the aorta in the abdomen. There is a sensation of pulsation in the abdomen, abdominal swelling, nausea, and vomiting. 

Aneurysms can affect any artery in the circulatory system. Below are some of the types of aneurysms affecting the circulatory system. 

  • Mesenteric artery aneurysm: Bulging area on the wall of the inferior or superior mesenteric arteries.
  • Popliteal artery aneurysm: It affects the artery behind the knee. It is seen that it is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms 40% to 50% of the time.
  • Splenic artery aneurysm: Dilation in the artery of the spleen. 

Symptoms of Aneurysms

Aneurysms are initially asymptomatic. Symptoms appear depending upon the affected blood vessels. Symptoms can be, 

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Fatigue
  • Pulsating abdominal mass
  • Pain in the abdomen or back
  • Hoarseness
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Chest or upper back pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • High-pitched breathing sound
  • Swelling in the neck

What are the risk factors for aneurysm?

  • High blood pressure 
  • Smoking
  • High level of cholesterol 
  • Genetic predisposition

Diagnosis of an aneurysm

Your doctor may ask about your symptoms, family, and past history to rule out possible causative factors. They can also ask for a certain test like:

  • Ultrasound scans
  • X-rays
  • Computed tomography (CT) scans or CT angiograms
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or MR angiograms
  • Digital subtraction angiograms
  • Cerebrospinal fluid examination (for a diagnosis of a subarachnoid hemorrhage).

Treatment for an aneurysm

Your aneurysm’s treatment will depend on its size, location, and the factors that put you at risk. Below are some interventions required for an aneurysm. 

Surgery: A stent is placed inside an artery to provide support to the wall of the artery. Other surgical procedures are done to treat the affected arteries. 

Medicines: Take medicine for your underlying disease of high blood pressure or diabetes with the consultation of your doctor. If you already have any heart disease, you may be advised to take aspirin. 

Lifestyle changes: You need to modify the habits that can put you in the danger zone of an aneurysm like smoking and alcohol intake habits. You should include healthy and balanced meals along with the daily physical activity. 

Complications of aneurysms

  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Kidney failure
  • Paralysis 
  • Epilepsy
  • subarachnoid hemorrhage (Bleeding in the layers of tissue surrounding the brain)
  • Sudden death

 

[bg_collapse view=”button-orange” color=”#4a4949″ expand_text=”Sources” collapse_text=”Sources” ]

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/aortic-aneurysm/what-is-an-aneurysm

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/aortic-aneurysm/types-of-aneurysms

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/aneurysm

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/aortic-aneurysm/treatment

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