Aneurysm - Pharm'Up

An aneurysm as a weak spot or a “ballooning” in the wall of an artery. Because arteries carry blood under high pressure, that weak spot can stretch out and bulge over time.

While an aneurysm can happen anywhere, they are most common in the aorta, which is the largest blood vessel in your body. It starts at your heart and runs all the way down through your chest and into your belly.

The Two Main Types

Doctors name the aneurysm based on where it is located:

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA): Located in the upper part of the aorta, within your chest.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): Located in the lower part of the aorta, within your abdomen. This is the more common type.

Why are they dangerous?

The biggest danger is that the bulge might rupture (burst). If the aorta bursts, it causes heavy internal bleeding that is often fatal.

The tricky part is that aneurysms are often “silent.” They can grow for years without you feeling any pain or symptoms. Most people only find out they have one when they get a scan (like an X-ray or Ultrasound) for an unrelated reason.

Who should get checked?

Because there are often no symptoms, screening is the best way to catch them early. Doctors usually recommend a simple ultrasound for people between 65 and 75 years old if they:

Have ever been a smoker (especially men).
Have a family history (parents or siblings who had an aneurysm).

How are they treated?

If a doctor finds an aneurysm, they will decide on a plan based on its size:

Small Aneurysms: Usually, the doctor will “watch and wait.” You’ll get regular scans to see if it’s growing and take medicine to keep your blood pressure low.
Large Aneurysms: If it gets too big, surgery is needed to fix the weak spot.
- Open Surgery: Replacing the weak section with a man-made tube (graft).
- Endovascular Repair (EVAR): A less invasive way where a “stent” is threaded through your leg veins to reinforce the artery from the inside.