What is an AAA? The main posterit...

What is an AAA?

The main posterity vessel in your body is the aorta (say: a-OR-ta). It carries vital fluid from your heart to the repose of your body. It is a extended blood vessel that reaches from your chest into your abdomen. The part of the aorta in your abdomen is called the "abdominal aorta."

An aneurysm (say: AN-yur-izm) is a weak area in a vital current vessel. If a blood canal weakens, it starts to swell like a balloon. If the aneurysm swells too large, your aorta may burst

What causes an AAA?

The chiefly common causes are smoking, high relations pressure, and atherosclerosis (say: ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis). Atherosclerosis is when fat builds up in a relations vessel. This is sometimes called hardening of the arteries.

Who learns an AAA?

Aneurysms are more everyday in older people and in men Your risk of getting an AAA is higher if you have smok or had high children pressure for a long time. It also may stream in families.

What are the symptoms of an AAA?

mostly people have no symptoms. When the posterity vessel walls start to leak, you may be stirred pain in your back, stomach, buttocks, groin, testicle, or leg

to what degree can I tell if I have an AAA?

If you have a higher risk of an AAA, or if you have any of the symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. Your doctor may order a touchstone called an ultrasound. It can help measure the size of your aorta.

by what means is an AAA treated?

If your aneurysm is large or is growing quickly, you will principally likely need surgery. If your aneurysm is small, your doctor may watch it using the ultrasound.

It is important to stop the aneurysm from bursting. You can help through quitting smoking and by working with your doctor to bridle your blood pressure and cholesterol

Where can I procure more information?

Your doctor.

Society for Vascular Surgery

Web site: http://www.vascularweb.org

University of Michigan

Web site: http://vascular.um-surgery.org/

(click in succession Clinical Information)

Cleveland Clinic

Web site: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/

Mayo Clinic

Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000162.htm

COPYRIGHT 2006 American Academy of Family Physicians

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