The Condition Called Aortic Dissection

If a person is diagnosed with a tear within the walls of his aorta, he has the conditions that heart specialists call aortic dissection. The aorta, as everyone knows, is the body’s largest artery. It is also connected to one of the four chambers of the heart.

This tear in the aorta would cause blood to flow within the layers of its walls. This incident may force those layers apart. When that happens, a health emergency is about. Aortic dissection may lead to quick and sudden death, even if medical professionals treat it optimally.

The aorta’s walls have three layers. If the dissection happens to tear through all of these layers, a swift and substantial blood loss would occur. Aortic dissections could be a major cause of ruptures. And when that happens, the results are going to be severe and even deadly.

DeBakey has categorized aortic dissection in three types. Each type only differs from where the dissection originates and how the rupture behaves. The tear in the aorta is mainly due to the high pressure of blood flowing inside it. So even with a minimal tear, blood would surely seep through. And that instance would eventually cause the tear to extend either closer to or farther from the heart, and both are equally dangerous.

Hypertension, together with several connective tissue problems, may cause aortic dissection. Chest trauma can also become the direct result of it. Most people, around 80 percent who are suffering from aortic dissection, have a history of high blood pressure.

Those between 50 and 70 years old are more prone to this disease. Males are more susceptible than females, but a number of cases are recorded in women as well. In ratio, two males for every one female can be inflicted. Females though, are more likely to acquire the disease even before they reach the age of 40. And it mostly occurs when they are pregnant, more particularly in their third trimester.

Another underlying cause of aortic dissection is the disease called bicuspid aortic valve. This is a type of a hereditary heart disease that involves one’s aortic valves. About 14 percent of people who have aortic dissection have this disease present in their bodies. And just like bicuspid aortic valve, the Marfan syndrome is also noted among individuals.

Aortic dissection may occur suddenly and without warning at all. Its symptom includes tearing pain, but the pain can sometimes be sharp and stabbing in nature. The pain is felt right where the dissection happens. If chest pain is felt, then what they have is aortic dissection that extends down from the aorta. If on the other hand, back pain is felt, it is a descending aortic dissection.

One of the telltale signs of aortic dissection is the change in a person’s blood pressure. Around 70 percent of those with aortic dissection have hypertension while 25 percent of the patients are diagnosed with hypotension.

To diagnose aortic dissection, chest x-ray is conducted. Doctors are looking for the calcium sign in their patient’s chest x-ray so as to determine any instance of aortic dissection. And apart from x-rays, the use of EGC, or electrocardiograph is also employed.

To treat and prevent aortic dissection, one’s high blood pressure should be carefully monitored. Hypertension can be treated through the intake of necessary medicines such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Surgery is also an option. Surgeons are tasked to remove the most damaged parts of the aorta so as to stop the entry of blood into the tears in its walls. Doing this will prevent the occurrence of aortic dissection in individuals.