An aortic aneurysm is a very serious condition that occurs when the aorta (the largest artery in the body that comes off the heart) develops a bulb-like formation. If the aneurysm is not treated appropriately, it can rupture or lead to an aortic dissection, causing blood to dangerously leak out of the aorta and prove life-threatening.
Factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol can accelerate aortic atherosclerotic disease, which can lead to an aortic aneurysm.
As September is Aortic Disease Awareness Month, and our team of cardiothoracic experts knows a thing or two about aortic aneurysms, we’re sharing info on what to look out for, who is most at risk, and how effectively managing conditions like high blood pressure can play a large role in prevention.
There are many different types of aortic aneurysms, one that we treat frequently at CTVS is thoracic aortic aneurysms.
What is a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA)?
A TAA is an aneurysm that forms in the chest area, or thoracic region. TAAs, although rare, do affect an estimated 6-10 per every 100,000 people. Symptoms of a TAA can be hard to detect and are often subtle and synonymous with so many other conditions, like chest pain or shortness of breath. This type of aneurysm is consequently most often detected by accident via an X-ray or CT scan for something else.
The leading cause for a TAA forming is long-standing, untreated high blood pressure.
Who is at risk for a thoracic aortic aneurysm?
Along with having high blood pressure, other risk factors that contribute to developing a TAA are:
- A history of smoking
- High cholesterol
- Cardiovascular disease
- A family history of TAAs
- A traumatic chest injury
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Prevention
One of the best ways that our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons and specialists recommend in helping to prevent a TAA from developing is to get your blood pressure under control. Here are five simple tips for lowering your blood pressure:
- Eating a well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains
- Monitoring salt intake
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Exercising regularly, at least 150 minutes a week for most adults
- Maintaining a healthy weight
Also be sure to schedule regular evaluations with a cardiologist if you suffer from cardiovascular disease or have a family history of it.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Treatment
Lifestyle changes and medication can help lower high blood pressure and your potential for developing a TAA. If a TAA is diagnosed however, surgery is most often needed to repair it.
Previously, open-heart surgery was the only option, but now there are many advancements in less-invasive, endoscopic procedures using a catheter-based stent inserted into the chest to perform the aneurysm repair. This is a procedure that CTVS performs known as Thoracic Endovascular Repair and may offer fewer complications than open-heart surgery with a much faster recovery.
For questions about our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.
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