Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Information

By Juliet Cohen - 2008-01-17 - Viewed 617 times. Find more articles like this in our Disability Articles category.

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An aneurysm is when a blood vessel becomes abnormally large or balloons outward.

The abdominal aorta is a large blood vessel that supplies blood to your abdomen, the pelvis, and legs. Normal diameter of the infrarenal aorta is 2 cm. It is caused by a degenerative process of the aortic wall. It is most commonly located infrarenally (90%), other possible locations are suprarenal and pararenal. The aneurysm can extend to include one or both of the iliac arteries. An aortic aneurysm may also occur in the thorax. Risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm include high blood pressure ,smoking ,high cholesterol ,obesity ,emphysema ,genetic factors and male gender. An abdominal aortic aneurysm can develop in anyone. AAA is uncommon in individuals of African, African American and asian.

It is most frequently seen in males over 60 with one or more risk factors. The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to rupture. Other risk factors include hypertension and male sex. In the US, the incidence of AAA is 2 - 4% in the adult population. Most common symptoms abdominal aortic aneurysm are pain in abdomen, groin, back, legs or buttocks , nausea and vomiting , swelling or bulging in one area of abdomen , abnormal stiffness in abdominal muscles and clammy skin. The treatment options for asymptomatic AAA are immediate repair, surveillance with a view to eventual repair, and conservative. Conservative treatment is indicated in patients where repair carries a high risk of mortality and also in patients where repair is unlikely to improve life expectancy.

Aneurysms that cause symptoms usually require surgery to prevent complications. There are two approaches to surgery. First is traditional (open) repair- traditional (open) repair is a large cut in abdomen. The abnormal vessel is supplant with a graft made of synthetic material, such as Dacron. Exercise, eat well, and avoid tobacco to reduce the risk of developing aneurysms. Get regular physical exams. If you have any risk factors, insist upon a screening abdominal aortic ultrasound. Endovascular stent grafting can be done without making a large cut in your abdomen, so you may get well faster. Exercise, eat well, and avoid tobacco to reduce the risk of developing aneurysms. Get regular physical exams and avoid smoking first. Control your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Avoid smoking.

2. Eating a well-balanced.

3. Do exercising regularly.

4. Control your blood pressure and Cholesterol.

5. Surgery is recommended for patients with aneurysms.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for Women Health.

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