Inflated "balloons" are portable "bombs"

This "balloon" hides in people's internal organs and expands quietly. Like a time bomb, when it gets bigger and bigger, it will burst very easily. Once it bursts, the mortality rate will be as high as 50%~80%...

This is abdominal aortic aneurysm, an extremely dangerous disease. People with high blood pressure, advanced age, smoking, chronic asthma, etc. need to be alert to its invasion.

Quick overview of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Atherosclerosis, inflammation, genetics and other factors lead to a weakened abdominal aorta, which expands the aorta wall and bulges outward like a balloon. It is worth noting that most people develop the disease in an insidious way. When the tumor is large, it will cause a series of symptoms of compression of the internal organs, such as intestinal discomfort, constipation, lower limb swelling, etc.

The typical manifestation is a painless mass in the abdomen that resembles a beating heart. When a rupture is threatened or ruptured, there are usually symptoms of pain in the middle abdomen or lower back. If it is sudden severe pain in the abdomen and back, accompanied by low blood pressure and a pulsating mass in the abdomen, it is highly suggestive of rupture.

What screening methods are available?

You can check it yourself. If you can feel a "pulsating mass" in your stomach, you need to go to the hospital's vascular surgery department as soon as possible.

Doctors mainly perform palpation and combined imaging for observation and diagnosis, with ultrasound examination being the first choice. The advantages of ultrasound are that it is non-invasive, inexpensive, and radiation-free, with high sensitivity and specificity, and can visually detect the manifestations of abdominal aortic aneurysms; other examination methods include ultrasound angiography, CT angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography.

These groups need to be screened:

Age > 65 years

A history of smoking

A history of illness in immediate family members

Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension

Warm reminder: With the aging of the population and changes in residents' dietary structure, the incidence of aortic aneurysm is increasing rapidly, and the above groups should increase the frequency of ultrasound screening.

How to maintain health in daily life?

Quit smoking and drinking, exercise properly, and develop a regular lifestyle;

Keep a good mood and avoid big mood swings;

Eat a low-salt, low-fat diet and eat more fruits and vegetables;

Keep bowel movements smooth and avoid straining during bowel movements;

Patients with hypertension should take medication regularly and strictly control their blood pressure.