Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
When the arteries harden due to plaque buildup, it causes a condition known as atherosclerosis. In turn, the aorta, the largest artery in the body, grows weaker, and this can lead to an abnormal bulge, known as an aneurysm, on the aortic wall. An aneurysm is like to occur in the abdominal portion of the aorta, and is referred to as an abdominal aortic aneurysm or AAA. Males over the age of 60 who smoke and have high blood pressure are most at risk.
While many individuals with a AAA have little to no symptoms, but a leaking blood vessel could cause lower back pain. Should a AAA be caught prior to rupture, those people will need to be carefully monitored to make sure the aneurysm does not grow any larger. Surgery is recommended for aneurysms with a diameter greater than 5.5 cm. If necessary, the surgery requires a graft done with synthetic materials like Gore-TexTM). Should an aneurysm rupture before discovery, the death rate is 80-percent.
