An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery that should not be there. Normal arterial walls are strong, muscular and thick, but occasionally a weak area will develop that causes it to bulge. These most commonly occur in the abdomen and brain and are very serious, they can result in stroke, coma, and death. The aorta is the largest artery in the body, carrying blood to all organs, this is also where an aneurysm will most commonly occur.
Causes may be atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries; high blood pressure; local injury to the artery; aging; and congenital abnormalities, which means you’re born with it. Symptoms include tearing pain in the chest, sides, abdomen, or mid-back; shortness of breath, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, stroke, loss of consciousness, shock, or heart attack. Often there are no symptoms, which makes diagnosis difficult.
A smaller aneurysm requires frequent monitoring, a larger one, or one with symptoms, can be surgically corrected by removing the damaged area and replacing it with a graft, this is a serious and complicated surgery, but the benefits outweigh the risks in most cases.
The best natural cures are prevention, if you are a smoker, stop. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels at a healthy range. If you are at risk, or have any symptoms, please see your health care professional and work out a plan to keep you at your healthy, optimal, best.