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Aneurysms - The Silent Killers
An aneurysm
is a weak spot on an artery wall that balloons out due to pressure
from the blood. Because many times, aneurysms have no detectable symptoms,
they are often referred to as the “silent killers.” They
can result from an accumulation of fatty deposits on the blood vessel
wall, and also can be due to family history, trauma, or other disease,
such as high blood pressure or atherosclerosis.
The wall of an artery must be strong enough to withstand the pressure
of blood being pumped through the vessel to other parts of the body.
When aneurysm disease is present, the artery becomes less durable
and actually stretches very slowly over time until the aneurysm is
formed. Symptoms typically do not appear until the condition is well
advanced or a complication occurs.
Types of Aneurysms
There are a number of different types of aneurysms and each are named
for the area, or artery, in which they occur. The following is a brief
description of general types of aneurysms. If you think you may be
at risk for an aneurysm, please seek a physical examination from your
primary care physician immediately.
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Aortic aneurysm: a distention, or ballooning
out, of part of the wall of the aorta - the heart’s main artery.
Another type of aortic aneurysm can occur in the abdomen, referred
to as - abdominal aortic aneurysm - and is normally caused by atherosclerosis.
Aortic aneurysms also can be caused by a breakdown of the muscular,
middle layer of the artery wall, by high blood pressure, or by direct
injury.
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Atrial
aneurysm: A bulging of part of the wall of one of
the heart’s upper chambers. This type of aneurysm has been
associated with an increased risk of stroke.
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Cerebral aneurysm: Occurs at a weak point in the artery
wall that supplies blood to the brain. Because of the flaw, the
artery wall bulges outward. If not detected, this type of aneurysm
can rupture, causing permanent brain damage, disability, or death
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Ventricular
aneurysm: A ballooning out of part of the wall of
one of the heart’s lower chambers, usually the left. In some,
this condition has been present since birth. It also may be attributed
to a complication of a heart attack or other trauma to the heart.
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