What is aorta disease?
What is Aortic Disease? Aortic disease is one of the most common form of cardiovascular disease. Disorders of the aorta-the main artery that supplies blood from the heart-can be extremely life threatening. Aneurysms, tears in the inner lining, and ulcers are types of aortic disease that require treatment.
What is aortic dilation?
Otherwise known as an aortic root aneurysm, a dilated aortic root is when the first section of the aorta, where the aortic valve resides, becomes enlarged. When this enlargement reaches a critical size, there is a risk of it rupturing or tearing, leading to a life-threatening situation.
Where is aorta in the body?
This artery is responsible for transporting oxygen rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The aorta begins at the left ventricle of the heart, extending upward into the chest to form an arch. It then continues downward into the abdomen, where it branches into the iliac arteries just above the pelvis.
What is the treatment for aortic disease?
Eventually, surgery or a catheter procedure may be needed to repair or replace the diseased aortic valve. Some people with aortic valve disease need surgery even if it’s not severe or when it’s not causing symptoms. Surgery to repair or replace an aortic valve is often done with open-heart surgery.
What are problems with the aorta?
Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious valve disease problems. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. Aortic stenosis restricts the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and may also affect the pressure in the left atrium.
Can you live with a dilated aorta?
Yes, you can live with an aortic aneurysm, and there are many ways to prevent dissection (splitting of the blood vessel wall that causes blood to leak) or worse, a rupture (a burst aneurysm).
What happens if the aorta is damaged?
Aortic dissection symptoms may be similar to those of other heart problems, such as a heart attack. Typical signs and symptoms include: Sudden severe chest or upper back pain, often described as a tearing or ripping sensation, that spreads to the neck or down the back. Sudden severe stomach pain.
What causes aortic disease?
Thoracic aortic aneurysms are usually caused by high blood pressure or sudden injury. Sometimes people with inherited connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, get thoracic aortic aneurysms.
How do you know if you have problems with your aorta?
If you have an enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysm, you might notice: Deep, constant pain in the belly area or side of the belly (abdomen) Back pain. A pulse near the bellybutton.
Can you reduce size of aortic aneurysm?
If the aneurysm is more than 5.5 centimeters in size, or if it’s rapidly getting larger, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the aneurysm. In many cases, doctors will run a catheter through the patient’s femoral artery in the groin to the site of the aneurysm in the aorta, then implant a stent graft.