Aortic aneurysm, a 'time bomb' disease that can be fatal

Many people were shocked when Indonesian culinary figure Bondan Winarno reportedly passed away recently. The reason is, even though he is no longer young, he still looks healthy and fit. Through several media it was later revealed that in fact since 2015 he had been diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm, which his doctor called a "time bomb that could break out and be deadly at any time."

What is an aortic aneurysm? Who is at risk of experiencing it? Check out the following explanation.

What is an aortic aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body). An enlarged aneurysm can rupture and cause bleeding and even death.

Most aneurysms occur in the aorta, the main artery that runs from the heart to the chest and abdomen.

There are two types of aortic aneurysms:

1. Thoracic aortic aneurysm: occurs in the aorta located in the chest
2. Abdominal aortic aneurysm: occurs in the aorta located in the abdomen

What are the symptoms of aortic aneurysm?

Aneurysms usually don't cause noticeable symptoms. This is why this condition is so fatal because sufferers only realize after the distortion in the blood vessels is very large or has already burst, and often it is too late to be saved. Usually, an aneurysm is only discovered when a patient deliberately performs a medical test or medical check up .

However, when the aneurysm is enlarged, there are usually several symptoms that can be felt:

• Chest pain
• Back pain
• Strange or uncomfortable feeling in the upper chest
• Strong pulse in the abdominal area
• Feel full after eating just a little
• Nausea or vomiting
• Head "keliyengan"
• Limp
• Shortness of breath
• Fast heart rate
• Numbness, tingling, or a cold sensation in the hands or feet
• Fainting

When there is a distension in the blood vessels, usually a blood clot will form. If this blood clot breaks up and flows to other parts of the body (embolism), it can block blood flow to important organs such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, and make it stop functioning.

What causes aortic aneurysm?

Aortic aneurysms arise from weakness in the wall of the aorta. This weakness can occur due to birth, or it can occur in adulthood due to the following conditions:

1. Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition when an artery is damaged or blocked. In this condition, plaque that comes from cholesterol sticks to the walls of blood vessels and makes them weak. Apart from being the main cause of aortic aneurysms, atherosclerosis also often causes heart disease and heart attacks.

1. High blood pressure

High blood pressure puts pressure on the walls of the aorta. If left untreated for years, this pressure can lead to swelling of the walls of blood vessels.

1. Diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can make atherosclerosis conditions appear earlier and worse, thus damaging blood vessels and making them weak, vulnerable to other disorders.

1. Cystic medial necrosis

In this condition, the medial (middle) layer of the blood vessels deteriorates, and there is an abnormal lining that weakens the supporting structures of the blood vessel walls. This usually occurs in several hereditary diseases such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Sometimes it also occurs as a result of heart valve disease, or during pregnancy.

1. Mycotic aneurysm

Occurs when bacteria enter the blood vessel system and attack the walls of the blood vessels. Usually bacteria will enter through areas that were injured or weak since birth. Although it is becoming rare now, in the early 20th century, one of the main causes of this condition was the already severe venereal disease syphilis.

1. Inflammatory aneurysm

Inflammatory conditions or vasculitis such as psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis can trigger inflammation in the walls of blood vessels. If left untreated, this will weaken the walls of the aorta.

1. Injury

Injuries that affect the chest or abdomen, for example during a vehicle accident or hard fall, can damage part of the aorta, making it weaker and more prone to inflating.

Who is at risk for aortic aneurysm?

In most cases, the cause of the aortic aneurysm is unknown. However, there are several groups of people who have a higher risk of developing this condition, namely:

• Be 55 years of age or older
• Male gender
• Have hypertension, aka high blood pressure
• Smoke
• Have a congenital disease that weakens blood vessels, for example Marfan's syndrome
• There is a family history of aortic aneurysm
• Experiencing atherosclerosis

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are 5 times more common in men than women. The aneurysm itself occurs in 3-9 men out of 100, who are over 50 years of age.

Can we prevent aortic aneurysms?

There is no medicine that can prevent aortic aneurysms. However, there are a number of things we can do to keep blood vessels healthy and strong.

• Eat foods low in fat and low in cholesterol
• Increase body activity: exercise or move to increase your heart rate, at least 30 minutes a day
• Do not smoke
• Keep blood pressure normal

Will an aortic aneurysm always end in death?

If diagnosed immediately and surgery to treat it, many people can recover as usual. However, because this condition usually occurs in the elderly, the healing process can be difficult and take a long time.

If the aortic aneurysm is not treated by a doctor promptly, there are several complications that can occur, and the effects can be fatal:

• Blood clotting: These clots can block blood flow to certain parts of the body or organs, causing these organs to stop functioning.
• Internal bleeding: If the aneurysm ruptures, internal bleeding will occur inside the body. When this happens, the patient must be immediately taken to the hospital because it can be fatal if not treated.
• Circulatory shock: If the bleeding is severe enough, the blood pressure will drop dramatically and the body's organs will not receive enough blood so that they cannot function normally. This condition is called "shock" and can be life threatening.