Seriously silent: Abdominal aortic aneurysms

Like a balloon, the wall of the aorta is quite elastic and can stretch. And like a balloon, it expands and retracts to accommodate the amount of air blown into it, or in this case, the amount of blood passing through the body’s largest blood vessel. This stretching and shrinking is normal, but what happens when the aorta wall becomes weakened with age or by health issues?

When the health of the aortal wall has faded, this blood vessel abnormally expands and swells. (Picture a garden hose with a round bubble along its otherwise sleek form.) This ballooning is called an aneurysm. It most commonly occurs in the abdominal area, slowing down blood flow to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. This can cause blood clots to form, break off, and travel from the belly to the legs.

What is important to understand about these abdominal aortic aneurysms is there are a few critical “mysteries.” The actual cause of the ballooning is unknown and can be so severe that the wall can rupture and tear open. And because of its hidden location in the abdomen, the aneurysm may go unnoticed because there are often no symptoms of growth until it tears or blood begins to leak from the blood vessel.

However, while the causes of aneurysms are not fully understood, we do know what makes us more susceptible to them. The fact is these abdominal aortic aneurysms most often occur in smokers, individuals with high cholesterol and blood pressure, males over the age of 60, and people who suffer from emphysema. As with many health conditions, genetics may also play a part in the likelihood of an aneurysm forming.

So when considering the best bet in preventing an abdominal aortic aneurysm, just think, “Better safe than sorry.” We may have heard this phrase repeated to us as children, but the truth is the best way to keep your body healthy is to eat right, exercise, and to know when to seek help from professionals like those at ICE.

Source: “Facts About Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm”: www.legsforlife.org/facts_about_aaa.htm

Case Study

Robert’s at Ease

What’s unsettling about an aortic aneurysm is that there are no symptoms. For the past 20 years — since my diagnosis — I have had to rely on yearly checkups and scans to monitor my condition. The fear of the aneurysm bursting was constant. When my wife Betty and I moved here from Rochester in 2007, I was nervous about finding a new cardiologist I could be ‘cozy’ with. I was referred to ICE because my primary care physician noticed my feet were ice cold and purple.

I am big into researching my health care providers. Perhaps that’s my Army training paying off. So when I saw that Dr. Qamar was a fivestar doctor, I felt comfortable following up with ICE. He assured me they were going to watch me diligently through periodic monitoring and care. They cleared the blockages, which improved circulation in my legs. Recently, Dr. Qamar discovered that the aneurysm had increased in size. He found it in time to take action. He referred me to a heart and vascular surgeon, Dr. Fariba Gharai. She was a wonderful, skilled surgeon and a beautiful person inside and out. and care. kages, ulation in Qamar eurysm art ariba derful, eautit. and able y a f for

I’m 81 now and Betty and I have been married for 61 wonderful years. We are able to stay active and healthy together. And we still do a little bit of healthy arguing together, too. What a relief for the both of us.