An aneurysm is identified as being the bulging or weakening of an arterial wall. They most often develop in individuals who are over 40 years old, and are responsible for over 25,000 deaths here in the United States every year. Because of this, even adults in incredible health can experience one.
What’s more is that aneurysms can be fatal if they rupture: you could die within minutes. But, according to Penn Medicine, there are lifestyle adjustments you could make to help prevent them. This includes taking steps to prevent high blood pressure, such as not smoking and managing your weight. That said, medication, exercise, and a healthy diet can prevent aneurysms from “spiraling out of control.”
There are three major types of aneurysms: cerebral, thoracic aortic, and abdominal aortic.
- Cerebral aneurysms are found in the brain, above your aorta (the large vessel that shuttles blood away from your heart, circulating it through the rest of your body). They’re most often found in individuals between 30 and 60 years of age; they can be miniscule and not cause any issues, but larger cerebral aneurysms could rupture, leading to breeding in your brain and perhaps even death.
- Thoracic aortic aneurysms occur in the part of your aorta that runs through your chest. They’re generally asymptomatic, but symptoms could include hoarseness, shortness of breath, tenderness or pain in your chest, and back pain.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms are sometimes called “Triple A.” They’re the most common type of aortic aneurysm. Major internal bleeding could happen if your blood pressure rises against the walls of your aorta, leading to its rupture. This is because how large and wide the aorta is–in fact, it’s up to an inch wide in some areas of your body. Abdominal aortic ruptures are sometimes mistaken for a heart attack due to their symptoms, which may include pain in your jaw and chest, fainting, difficulty breathing, weakness on one side of your body, and a stabbing pain in your back or abdomen.
The Ezra full-body scan could locate aneurysms in your pelvis, abdomen, and brain. If you’re interested in learning more, you may do so here.
