What is an Aneurysm?
An aneurysm is a localized, blood-filled dilation (balloon-like bulge) of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall. Aneurysms most commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and in the aorta (the main artery coming out of the heart), a so-called aortic aneurysm. The bulge in a blood vessel can burst and lead to death at any time. The larger an aneurysm becomes, the more likely it is to burst and since aneurysms naturally grow, given enough time they will inevitably reach the bursting point if undetected.
An aneurysm is a stretching, dilatation and bulging of an artery that occurs as a result of weakening of the arterial wall and loss of its usual elastic properties. Aneurysms can, in theory, occur in any artery in the body but are most common ( and of most clinical importance ) when they arise in the aorta – the main central artery of the body, which carries blood from the heart down through the chest and abdomen, giving off major branches to all the body’s organs. Aortic aneurysms, like many other types of arterial and heart diseases, are several times more common in men than women, possibly because of a protective effect of female hormones.
