16/08/2023
The health of the aorta is very important, as it is the artery that leaves the heart to supply blood to all the organs, limbs and muscles of the body.
The section of the aorta within the chest is called the thoracic aorta and the section of the aorta in the abdomen is called the abdominal aorta.
Normally a healthy aorta is elastic to accommodate the different pressure changes in the blood. However, with time atherosclerotic changes take place. This is a fatty deposition in the wall of the artery resulting in stiffening of the wall of the artery. This is exacerbated by smoking, poor diet and high blood pressure. As a result of these changes the aorta is more susceptible to widening or bulging resulting in the development of an aortic aneurysm which is a potentially fatal condition for which early medical intervention is life saving.
The patient can be symptom free or present with abdominal and back pain. On clinical examination a pulsating mass in the abdomen can be felt.
Aortic ultrasound examination can measure the diameter of the aorta, detect any calcification or fatty deposits and assess the blood flow in the aorta.
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