Aortic aneurysm may be asymptomatic for many years. The first sign may be its rupture, which can be fatal. Researchers at Yale University have developed a simple test to help estimate the risk.
Who is at risk of an aortic aneurysm? First of all, people who smoke and suffer from atherosclerosis and hypertension. Inflammation and inherited genetic diseases also increase the risk. An aneurysm can also be the result of exercise, and the risk of developing one increases with age.
Symptoms of aortic aneurysm
There are several symptoms of an aortic aneurysm. Belong to them:
- strong stomach ache
- back pain
- chest pain, including retrosternal pain
- cough
- shortness of breath
- hoarseness
- krwioplucie
- nausea and vomiting
- Pressure drop
- frequent pneumonia
People with aortic aneurysm may also faint. The symptoms are not particularly characteristic. Often, aneurysms may be asymptomatic by the time they rupture. Researchers at Yale University have developed a thumb test that allows you to assess the risk of an aortic aneurysm.
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Thumb test – how to do it?
To do it:
- Raise your hand up and keep your hand flat.
- Bend your thumb and stretch it towards the edge of your hand as far as you can.
If your thumb easily extends beyond the edge of your hand, you probably have developed an aneurysm or may be at risk soon. Why? Loosened joints are a signal of the pathological condition of the connective tissue, including arterial vessels.
The method was tested at Yale University on a group of 305 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for various disorders, including aortic aneurysms.
The study was published in the American Journal of Cardiology. “Patients who test positive are likely to develop aneurysms,” said Dr. John A Elefteriades, one of the authors of the study.
Elefteriades said that for at least the last two decades he and his colleagues have described the thumb test in lectures for medical students and used it on patients who may be at risk of an aneurysm.
Scientists reassure that a positive thumb test result should not be a cause for panic. But he should consult a doctor. However, they recommend that the test be included in basic medical examinations, especially in people whose relatives have suffered an aortic aneurysm.