Moving to a new town comes with a lot of tasks to get done. Not only do you have to get all of your belongings moved, but you have to make changes to your medical care facilities. So, when you get to your new home town, do you know what health care clinics you can rely on for the care of your family? Will you couple your family's healthcare with both a clinic and a PCP? This blog will give you several suggestions about how to manage the changes in your family's healthcare adaptations to ensure you receive the best possible care in your new home town.
There are numerous health issues that a person can develop and suffer from without even realizing it, and one of these potentially serious conditions is known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Many people do not know anything about an abdominal aortic aneurysm until it is essentially too late and they are dealing with a medical emergency. Get to know some of the facts about this condition so that you can know the signs and the possible treatments in case it happens to you or someone you love and care about.
Understanding Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlargement in the main blood vessel (the aorta) that supplies blood to the entire body. The swelling or enlargement can cause blood pooling and if the aneurysm gets large enough or the person has an injury or other jolt to their system, the aneurysm can burst. A burst abdominal aortic aneurysm, of course, causes large amounts of blood loss and could be fatal.
Signs of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be tricky to diagnose because oftentimes they are asymptomatic, especially when they are relatively small in size. Some abdominal aortic aneurysms never grow large enough to cause problems and will go unnoticed. However, when they grow larger or begin to cause potential health issues, these aneurysms can cause a sensation of throbbing or pulsating in the abdomen (like an exaggerated or stronger pulse than you would feel when checking your wrist or neck).
Other potential signs that you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm can include a nagging, persistent pain in your abdomen or on the side of your abdomen. Dull and persistent back pain could also be a sign of trouble. And, of course, if a person experiences suddenly severe back and/or abdominal pain, this could be a sign of an aneurysm burst and requires immediate medical attention.
Treatments for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is detected before it bursts, there are treatments, both surgical and non-surgical, that can help. Vascular radiology, also known as interventional radiology, offers a few non-invasive methods for dealing with an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Oftentimes, the aneurysm results from a weakening of the abdominal aorta so that it cannot maintain its structure. As such a stent may be put into place to help hold that structure and prevent blood pooling. Essentially, the doctor will thread the device through the femoral artery up to the area of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. The stent is placed to act as an aortic wall to prevent blood from reaching the swollen area of the aneurysm. This maintains proper blood flow throughout the body and will prevent a life-threatening aneurysm burst.
Sometimes, these non-invasive methods are not possible based on the extent of the damage or other factors (including a leak or burst). In these cases open abdominal surgery may be necessary. This is a more invasive procedure but allows the surgical team to remove damaged areas of the aorta and patch or repair the remaining tissue. Oftentimes, an artificial tube is used to replace the portion of the aorta that has been removed.
Now that you know more about abdominal aortic aneurysms and their treatments, you can be sure that you are aware in case you experience symptoms and need medical care.
Share22 August 2016
