Aneurysm, abdominal aortic
The best way to prevent getting an aneurysm, or reduce the risk of an aneurysm growing bigger and possibly rupturing, is to avoid anything that could damage your blood vessels.
This includes:
If your GP finds out you have high blood pressure or a high cholesterol level, you may be prescribed medication for both. This will reduce the risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Smoking is a major risk factor for aneurysms because it causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and raises your blood pressure.
Tobacco smoke contains substances that can damage the walls of the arteries.
It is known that smokers are seven times more likely than non-smokers to develop an AAA.
The more you smoke, the greater your risk. People who regularly smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day may have more than 10 times the risk of non-smokers.
If you want to stop smoking, your GP will be able to refer you to an NHS Stop Smoking Service, which will give you dedicated help and advice about the best ways to quit.
You can also call the NHS Smokefree helpline on 0800 022 4332. The specially trained helpline staff can offer you free expert advice and encouragement.
This is because eating too much saturated fat can lead to high cholesterol, which can build up in the artery walls.
Find out more abouthealthy eating and how to reduce the amount of saturated fat you eat.
Being active and doing regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.
Regular exercise can also help you lose weight, which will also help lower your blood pressure.
Adults should do at least 150 minutes (two hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week.
Examples of moderate intensity activity include cycling or fast walking.
For it to count, the activity should make you feel warm and slightly out of breath. Someone who is overweight may only have to walk up a slope to get this feeling.
Physical activity can include anything from sport to walking and gardening.
Get more ideas on being active.
Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body. This can raise your blood pressure, which in turn puts pressure on your arteries.
Use the BMI healthy weight calculator to find out if you need to lose weight.
If you need to shed some weight, it's worth remembering that losing just a few pounds will make a big difference to your blood pressure and overall health.
Get tips on losing weight safely and read more about preventing high blood pressure.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling (aneurysm) of the aorta; the main blood vessel that leads away from the heart, down through the abdomen to the rest of the body. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the human body. This vessel originates from the heart, spans the chest and extends down to the stomach. The segment of the aorta which supplies the organs of the abdomen with blood, is called the abdominal aorta. An aneurysm is the swelling of a small segment of the aorta (up to 5 cm, when the normal width of the aorta lumen is 2 cm)
In most cases, an unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) will cause no symptoms, unless it becomes particularly large. If your aortic aneurysm ruptures, you will feel a sudden and severe pain in the middle or side of your abdomen. In men, the pain can also radiate down into the scrotum. A ruptured aortic aneurysm is a medical emergency, and its important to get to hospital as soon as possible.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when part of the aorta wall becomes weakened, causing it to bulge outwards to form an aneurysm. Research has found that smokers are seven times more likely to develop an AAA than people who have never smoked. The more you smoke, the greater your risk of developing an AAA. People who regularly smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day may have more than 10 times the risk of non-smokers.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) usually causes no symptoms. Therefore, they tend to be diagnosed as a result of screening, or during a routine physical examination when a GP notices a distinctive pulsating sensation in your abdomen. A diagnosis is usually made following consultation with a medical professional. The patient is recommended an abdominal ultrasound, or a contrast scanner, which both help the physician to determine the position of the aneurysm and its size.
Treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) depends on several factors, including the aneurysm's size, your age and general health. The treatment of aneurysms depends on the condition of the patient, the position and size of the aneurysm, etc. If the aneurysm is small, it poses little risk, and thus the treatment adapted is conservative. The patient is usually advised to make certain lifestyle changes (quitting smoking, avoiding foods high in fats, exercising, maintain a lower blood pressure). If the aneurysm is large, a surgical intervention is necessary, which may involve: endovascular surgery, open surgery.
The best way to prevent getting an aneurysm, or reduce the risk of an aneurysm growing bigger and possibly rupturing, is to avoid anything that could damage your blood vessels. To prevent the occurrence of an AAA, the patient is recommended: to quit smoking, light exercise, avoiding foods high in unhealthy fats & to lose weight (if overweight), if previously suffering from arterial hypertension, to maintain normal values. If your GP finds out you have high blood pressure or a high cholesterol level, you may be prescribed medication for both.
When trumpeter Peter Cripps, had a CT scan for a kidney stone, an abdominal aortic aneurysm was also discovered. The surgeon came to see me straight away and recommended an open AAA operation, which was done on January 16 2007. The operation went really well, and I was out of hospital a week later.