Guide To Common Aortic Dissection Symptoms
An aortic dissection occurs when there is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the major artery that carries blood from the heart to other areas of the body. This condition is considered a life-threatening medical emergency. Aortic dissections 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, and individuals with high blood pressure also have an elevated risk. Aortic dissections occur more frequently in patients in their sixties and eighties than in other age groups, and the incidence of this condition is twice as high in males as it is in females. Patients who perform high-intensity weightlifting and similar strength training exercises have an increased risk of this type of dissection, and the condition sometimes develops in otherwise healthy women during pregnancy. To diagnose aortic dissection, doctors perform specialized heart tests, including a CT scan, a transesophageal echocardiogram, and a magnetic resonance angiogram. Patients with a type B aortic dissection may sometimes be treated with medication alone. Those with type A dissections require a surgical procedure to reconstruct the aorta.
The symptoms outlined below are some of those patients who have an aortic dissection may experience.
Chest Or Back Pain
An aortic dissection generally causes sudden, severe chest or back pain. Most patients describe the pain as a tearing, shearing, or ripping sensation, and it may feel similar to pain experienced during a heart attack. Beginning under the breastbone, it changes position and can radiate up to the neck or down the patient's back. Many patients with back pain caused by an aortic dissection feel the pain in their upper back at first. In addition to chest and back pain, some individuals also notice severe abdominal pain. Patients experiencing these pains should alert those around them so an ambulance can be called. Paramedics can start life-saving measures on the way to the hospital, and the patient will be seen immediately on arrival.
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Loss Of Consciousness
Depending on the severity of an aortic dissection, patients could experience a temporary loss of consciousness. If this occurs, bystanders should immediately call the emergency services, and someone should stay with the patient until paramedics arrive. While waiting for the emergency teams, individuals at the scene can help the patient by checking their airway to ensure it is not blocked. This is done by gently opening the mouth. It is important to feel the patient's wrist to check for a pulse. If the pulse is absent, anyone who knows how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should begin this immediately, and the patient should be placed on their back. The patient's pulse should be checked periodically, and observers should check for signs of breathing, coughing, or movement that could indicate the patient has regained consciousness. If known, bystanders should inform paramedics about the duration of the patient's loss of consciousness.
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Shortness Of Breath
The shortness of breath that occurs with this emergency often appears suddenly and is generally severe. Patients may gasp for air and feel as though they cannot take a full breath. They might breathe very rapidly, and their breaths may tend to be shallow. The severity of the shortness of breath the patient experiences could make it difficult for them to speak. As part of hospital treatment, patients will be given supplemental oxygen and medications to make it easier to breathe, and some of these treatments can be provided by paramedics on the way to the emergency room. Doctors at the hospital will assess a patient's shortness of breath by observing their breathing pattern, listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, and measuring their respiration rate. Shortness of breath often resolves if the aortic dissection is successfully treated.
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Weakness Or Paralysis
The symptoms of aortic dissection can mimic those of a stroke, and patients could develop weakness or paralysis. As with other symptoms, weakness and paralysis have an abrupt onset with an aortic dissection, and they tend to affect only one side of the body. Patients might notice they have sudden difficulty with walking, and they could experience pain or numbness in their toes or fingers. Temporary paralysis of the legs is frequently reported by individuals experiencing this type of dissection. When pulses in the arms and legs are compared, one side of the body will typically have a weaker pulse than the other. If any weakness or paralysis is present, the patient should lie down as soon as possible to prevent falls or other injuries. Individuals with the patient may want to check for possible signs of a stroke, including drooping on one side of the face. To help medical staff, bystanders may want to write down the patient's symptoms and note the time the weakness or paralysis was first observed. It can be especially beneficial to record which limbs are affected by these symptoms; this information may help doctors rule out a stroke or other medical conditions.
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Difficulty Speaking
An aortic dissection may cause the patient to experience difficulty speaking without warning. The patient's speech may be slurred, and they could be unable to form words. One of the corners of their mouth could droop, and the patient might seem disoriented and confused. Swallowing difficulties have also been reported in patients with an aortic dissection, and speaking difficulties might occur in conjunction with temporary vision loss. To assess speech difficulties, family members or bystanders can ask the patient to repeat a simple sentence and note whether the response is clear or muddled. Temporary speech difficulties during a medical emergency may make it impossible for the patient to communicate with paramedics and hospital staff. If possible, a family member familiar with the patient's health history should travel to the hospital to be with the patient and to provide doctors with crucial information about the patient's conditions and current medications.