Guide To Common Aortic Dissection Symptoms

An aortic dissection occurs when there is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta. This is the major artery that carries blood from the heart to other areas of the body. Aortic dissection is considered a life-threatening medical emergency. They can happen following a car accident or another incident that results in a traumatic blow to the chest. Patients with Marfan's syndrome are at a higher risk of aortic dissection, as are individuals with high blood pressure. Aortic dissections occur more frequently in patients in their sixties and eighties than in other age groups. This condition occurs twice as much in males as does in females. Patients who perform high-intensity weightlifting and similar strength training exercises have an increased risk of this type of dissection. Doctors perform specialized heart tests, including a computerized tomography scan, a transesophageal echocardiogram, and a magnetic resonance angiogram to diagnose this condition.