Guide To Preventing And Treating Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a condition that affects an individual's aorta, which is the main artery that provides the body with its supply of oxygenated blood. It is the largest blood vessel in the body and spans from the heart to the lower abdomen. This blood vessel can become weakened at any point, causing it to bulge. When this happens to the lower portion of the aorta, it is an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
This type of aneurysm develops slowly over time and does not have any symptoms until it is relatively large and or has ruptured. A deep and persistent abdominal pain radiating to the side, back pain, and a pulse near the bellybutton are all symptoms indicative of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The most common causes of this kind of aneurysm are infection, trauma, atherosclerosis, blood vessel diseases, and hypertension.
Exercise Regularly And Eat Healthy
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be prevented and managed if an individual exercises regularly and eats healthy. A sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and being overweight are three known factors that can increase an individual's risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Exercising regularly can help an individual maintain a healthy body mass index and eliminate the risk factor of being overweight or obese. A heart-healthy diet is recommended for individuals who have or are at risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Alcohol should only be consumed once or twice a week, and typically only one or two drinks should be consumed each time. Foods high in salt should be avoided in affected individuals because sodium increases blood pressure. No more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium should be consumed each day in individuals who have or are high risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Usually, any food that comes in a can, jar, or bag has too much salt in it for an individual on a heart-healthy diet.
Manage Blood Pressure And Cholesterol
An individual can prevent abdominal aortic aneurysms or prevent an existing small one from worsening if they manage their blood pressure and cholesterol. High blood pressure places the most direct stress on the blood vessel walls, including the aorta. High blood pressure increases the risk of aorta wall compromise and weakening, which can result in the formation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Blood pressure management medications such as beta-blockers can be utilized to manage blood pressure in affected individuals. High cholesterol can cause the vessel walls to become stiff and narrowed.
Cholesterol can combine with white blood cells and other substances in the blood, resulting in plaque deposits on the inner artery walls. This plaque calcifies or becomes hard, decreasing the amount of space for blood to flow through and reducing the ability of the vessels to expand. This process places greater strain on the heart and aorta to move blood to all of the tissues in the body, increasing the risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Medications and diet changes can be used to keep cholesterol at a healthy level.
