Care with Kindness for Aortic Aneurysm on the Central Coast
Your blood travels from your heart to the rest of your body through pathways called arteries. The largest artery in your body is your aorta. If you experience an aortic aneurysm, you have an abnormal bulge somewhere along your aorta.
Most people who have this cardiovascular condition do not see signs or symptoms until they experience a medical emergency resulting from the aneurysm leaking or bursting. An aortic aneurysm can cause a life-threatening situation requiring emergency care.
At Dignity Health Central Coast, we can provide the fast emergency services and personalized follow-up care for aortic aneurysms. Find a Doctor today at Dignity Health Central Coast to diagnose your risk factors for aortic aneurysm on the Central Coast.
Identifying Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms at Dignity Health Central Coast
An aortic aneurysm does not happen at once, but develops slowly over time. You may feel symptoms if you have an aortic aneurysm in your thoracic region, and it presses against part of your chest. An aortic aneurysm can also grow in your abdomen, but rarely have noticeable symptoms.
If an aortic aneurysm becomes a medical emergency, you may notice:
- Clammy skin
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Rapid pulse
If you are experiencing these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
A Dignity Health Central Coast expert can determine your risks for developing an aortic aneurysm and provide you with preventive steps for your well-being and peace of mind.
Aortic Aneurysm Causes
Doctors know that aortic aneurysms are the result of weaknesses in the artery wall. As time goes on, the continued pressure on the wall causes the area of weakness to balloon.
While there is no single cause of aortic aneurysms, your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor can discuss your risk. You are more likely to have an aortic aneurysm if you have heart disease (coronary artery disease).
These factors also increase your risk of aortic aneurysms:
- Being male
- Smoking
- Age older than 60
- Family history of aortic aneurysm
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Inflammation of the aorta
Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms
Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor will develop a personalized treatment and prevention plan for your specific circumstances.
Small abdominal aortic aneurysms that appear to be growing slowly require only monitoring, while large aneurysms grow quickly and can require surgery. Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms are considered life threatening and require surgery immediately. Thoracic aortic aneurysms also are considered life threatening, requiring immediate surgery.
Even if you are healthy, you may develop an aortic aneurysm. While this makes prevention difficult, you can reduce your risk by avoiding smoking and treating your high cholesterol and high blood pressure. See your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor for regular physical exams, which can help with an early-stage diagnosis of conditions leading to an aortic aneurysm.
Get in touch with a Dignity Health Central Coast doctor for quality care related to aortic aneurysms.
With a shared philosophy of care, dignity, and respect, Dignity Health doctors expertly diagnose and treat aortic aneurysms throughout the Central Coast.