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Upcoming DatesAbdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Facts
What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?
An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of the largest artery in your body called the aorta. The aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aneurysm is caused by disease in the aortic wall.
The aorta extends from the heart down through the chest and abdominal region, where it divides into blood vessels that supply each leg. Smaller arteries branch off to supply blood to the vital organs. Aneurysms can develop anywhere in the aorta, but most (about 90%) occur in the abdominal area.
Signs and Symptoms
Most people with an abdominal aortic aneurysm have no symptoms or warning signs. Those who do have symptoms typically notice the following:
- A pulsing feeling in the abdomen, similar to a heartbreat
- Sever, sudden pain the abdomen or lower back.
Facts
- Males are at least four times more likely to have an AAA than females.
- AAA is the 13th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the 10th leading cause of death in men over age 55.
- Each year, about 15,000 Americans die of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- AAAs are generally silent until rupture at which time only 10-25% of affected individuals survive to hospital discharge following repair. This means that AAAs are 75-90% fatal.
- As many as 2 of 3 people with ruptured AAAs die before arriving at the hospital.
- Ultrasound has been demonstrated to be a sensitive and specific tool for AAA detection.
- Smoking is associated with a 3-5-fold increase in the risk of developing an AAA.
- The vast majority of people who have an aneurysm have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are back pain, rigidity in the abdomen or tenderness in the abdomen.
Males are at least four times more likely to have an AAA than females.
AAA is the 13th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the 10th leading cause of death in men over age 55
Each year, about 15,000 Americans die of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
AAA�s are generally silent until rupture at which time only 10-25% of affected individuals survive to hospital discharge following repair. This means that AAAs are 75-90% fatal.
As many as 2 of 3 people with ruptured AAAs die before arriving at the hospital.
Ultrasound has been demonstrated to be a sensitive and specific tool for AAA detection.
Smoking is associated with a 3-5-fold increase in the risk of developing an AAA.
The vast majority of people who have an aneurysm have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are back pain, rigidity in the abdomen or tenderness in the abdomen.