Aortic dissection is a serious condition in which the inner lining of the aortic blood vessel ruptures. This allows blood to flow into the tear and forms a blood clot that separates the inner and middle layers of the aortic wall.
Aortic dissection is a condition that must be watched out for, especially in the elderly (elderly) who have a history of high blood pressure. If not treated quickly, this condition can lead to a number of dangerous complications.
The aorta is a large, thick-walled artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. So, the blood flow through the aorta is very fast. If a dissection occurs, the walls that block blood flow become thinner and more prone to rupture.
By location, the aorta is divided into 3 parts. The first is the aorta which receives blood directly from the heart. The blood is then passed down to the aorta, which is located in the chest and abdomen.
Symptoms and Causes of Aortic Dissection
Symptoms of aortic dissection are often difficult to identify because they are similar to those of other heart disorders. In most cases, symptoms usually start with sudden, severe chest pain followed by other symptoms such as:
- Hard to breathe
- Difficulty speaking
- Feeling restless or dazed
- A cold sweat
- Loss of consciousness
- Weak pulse on one hand
- Weakness of a limb on one side of the body, as in a stroke
The main cause of aortic dissection is not known with certainty. Hypertension is thought to be one of the risk factors for aortic dissection, especially if this hypertension is experienced by people aged between 60-70 years.
Apart from hypertension and the influence of age, there are several other conditions that can increase a person's risk of aortic dissection, including:
- Smoke
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- High cholesterol
- Injury to the chest
- Aortic narrowing
- Abuse of illegal drugs
- History of operations performed around the heart
- Atherosclerosis or narrowing and thickening of the aortic wall
- Marfan syndrome or connective tissue disorders
Handling Steps and Efforts to Avoid Aortic Dissection
Aortic dissection is a dangerous and life-threatening condition. If it occurs, this condition requires immediate treatment. The following are the treatment steps for aortic dissection patients:
- Aortic dissection that occurs in the part of the aorta close to the heart requires immediate surgery.
- Aortic dissections that occur in the thoracic or abdominal aorta can be treated with prescription medication or surgery, depending on the severity of the condition.
Your doctor may prescribe painkillers, such as morphine. In addition, you may also be given at least one type of medication to lower blood pressure, such as a beta-blocking drug.
The risk of aortic dissection can be reduced in several ways that you can apply in your daily life. Following are some of them:
- Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke can trigger a number of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis which can lead to aortic dissection.
- Control blood pressure. If you are diagnosed with hypertension, make sure you regularly monitor your blood pressure and take the medications your doctor has given you, even if you have no complaints.
- Using a seat belt when driving can prevent impact or trauma to the chest in the event of an accident.
- Maintain ideal body weight by eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and exercising regularly.
- Carry out routine checks if there is a family member who has a history of aortic dissection, especially if you also have factors that increase your risk of developing this condition.
Aortic dissection is a very dangerous condition. If it occurs, this condition must be monitored closely because otherwise, fatal complications such as severe bleeding, stroke, aortic valve damage, intestinal and kidney damage, and even death can occur at any time.
Therefore, it would be much better if this condition was prevented from occurring. Although the risk of aortic dissection is higher in the elderly, it is possible that this can occur in young people who have many risk factors.
If you experience symptoms of aortic dissection, seek immediate medical attention. When the condition is stable, you must continue to control and consult regularly with your doctor to monitor your condition.
