What are the risk factors?
Most common risk factors: high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, or and hardening of the arteries, increase the risk of aortic dissection. Trauma due to accidents can also result in an aortic tear. Certain conditions that put stress on the aorta or weaken it can also increase the risk. Some of these conditions include:
Other risk factors:
- Pregnancy
- Marfan’s Syndrome
- Narrowing of the aorta
- Connective tissue diseases
- Vascular inflammation
- Previous heart surgery or procedures.
Key points
1. People with high blood pressure and/or abnormal blood vessels are prone to develop aortic dissection.
2. Trauma due to accidents can result in an aortic tear.
3. Certain conditions that weaken or put stress on the aorta can increase the risk of aortic dissection.
How is it diagnosed?
Physicians may suspect aortic dissection when a patient complains of typical symptoms and examination reveals the cardinal signs. Diagnosis can be confirmed with tests such as an echocardiogram, chest xray, CT scan, MRI, or a procedure called aortic angiography. This involves injecting a special dye that helps project an image of the aorta and the tear on a screen.
Key points
1. Physicians may suspect an aortic dissection based on a patient’s symptoms and when an exam reveals typical signs.
2. Diagnosis can be confirmed with imaging tests, such as a chest xray, echocardiogram, ultrasound, CT scan, or an MRI.
3. An aortic angiogram is a procedure that involved injection of a dye so that the physician can visualize the aorta and tear on a screen.
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