Dangerous medical conditions that can take the lives of patients with little advance warning are usually referred to as "silent killers". Such health conditions are often difficult to detect because patients frequently experience no symptoms that would normally trigger a visit to their doctor. Once such a condition shows itself, however, immediate treatment is usually required to prevent significant disability or even death. One of many such silent killers is the aneurysm (aneurism).

When the wall of an artery or vein becomes weak, the blood pressure pushing on that weakened area can cause it to balloon over time and fill with blood. This is usually not an issue by itself, but will quickly become a life-threatening problem if the wall of the artery or vein ruptures and internal bleeding takes place. The greater the aneurysm has grown, the greater the risk is that it will rupture.

Ruptured aneurysms in the major blood vessels of the chest cavity, the stomach area or abdomen, the thighs and the brain are the most likely to be fatal. This is because significant blood loss can occur from ruptures in these areas of the body.

In Britain, more than 6000 people die annually from aneurysms in the chest and stomach. In Canada, the numbers are about 1000. In the US, stomach aneurysms kill 15000 people per year, while brain aneurysms kill roughly 17000 people.

In the population, aneurysms in the stomach area, called abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), are some of the most common affecting as much as 9% of men over 65. These aneurysms are most frequent for men who are 3.5 to 5 times more likely to have an aneurysm than women. For aneurysms in the chest area, men have 1.5 times the risk that women do of developing this type of aneurysm.

All that said, the risk of death and disability from an aneurysm is higher for women who develop them. For aneurysms in the brain, a study from the University of Michigan found that women have 1.7 times the risk of aneurysm rupture compared to men. For aneurysms in the stomach area, women have 1.4 times the risk of dying if the aneurysm is treated whether or not it has ruptured. When considering aneurysms in the chest area, women have 4 times the risk of aneurysm rupture than men.

Factors that increase the risk of developing an aneurysm include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) and smoking. A previous aneurysm also means that a person has a higher risk of a subsequent aneurysm. As well, researchers at the University Hospital in Stockholm studying twins have found that genetic factors are important in the development of the condition.

In situations where an identical twin has developed an aneurysm in the stomach area, there is a 1 in 4 chance that the other twin will also develop the same type of aneurysm. This means that genetic factors increase the risk by as much as 71 times over those without the genetic factor. However, these numbers don't indicate the risk of inheriting the genes related to the development of aneurysms.

Given the risks of death for those with the different types of aneurysm, there is good news in that preventative surgery and treatments are lowering the mortality rate. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that in the US, rates of stomach aneurysm rupture have been decreased by 32% between 1993 and 2005 due, in part, to preventative measures. Deaths from these aneurysm ruptures have also been reduced by 27%.

Also good news is that newer, less invasive forms of preventative surgery are not significantly reducing the lifespan of patients. Research from Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden has found that from 1987 to 2005, the risks of preventative aneurysm repair have decreased to the point where the life span of patients who undergo the surgery is "only marginally shorter" than the general population.

As well, research from the Imperial College in England has shown that the use of common cholesterol lowering drugs can cut the risk of stomach aneurysm ruptures in half. This is a fairly easy way of reducing personal risk.

However, the key to prevention of an aneurysm is early detection. Stomach aneurysms can be detected by a $50 ultrasound screening and since they are a very common type, this is fairly easy decision. Screening for aneurysms in the chest and head require more precise medical imaging and are more expensive as a result. Genetic testing is not yet available to assess an individual's risk of aneurysm. However, if relatives have suffered from an aneurysm, it is a good idea to inform your doctor so they may decide whether or not to have you screened.

Are you at risk of aneurysm or do you have one? Please feel free to share your experiences with others.

Related Links

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/339/24/1725
http://www.jvascsurg.org/article/PIIS0741521497702684/fulltext
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/154/3/236
http://www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/vas/abdominalaorticaneurysm.html
http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=352
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001122.htm
http://www.healthnews.uc.edu/news/?/9053/
http://www.bmj.com/content/vol338/issue7710/press_release.dtl
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080905/abdominal_aneurysm_080905/20080905?hub=Health
http://bionews.zampbioworld.org/2009/02/23/17729
http://www.jvascsurg.org/article/S0741-5214(09)01678-4/abstract
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_aneurysm/detail_cerebral_aneurysm.htm
http://www.jvascsurg.org/article/S0741-5214(08)01678-9/abstract
http://www.uu.se/news/news_item.php?typ=pm&id=698
http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/divisions/surgeryandcancer/divisionofsurgery/biosurg/vascular/clinicaltrials/evar_trials/

Not so many die from aneurysm as I thought but it is still a bad condition. A gene test may come soon with science moving so fast.

I really think good screening is required to avoid problem of aneurism sneaking up on us.

What is sad is that sometimes tests for aneurysms and the level of the condition of our arteries are not accurate.

We have had a case in Australia where a well known business person got a "clean bill of health" from his doctor, everything was fine. He was in his forties and used to run on the beach for exercise. One week later after seeing his doctor he dropped dead with a heart attack!

I have found out about the best kept secret and I will share it with anyone who is interested in knowing. It helps to keep the arteries flowing, help to stop heart attacks. Plus plus plus!

Lorraine

Ok, I'll bite. I am hoping your not trying to sell me something... Also, what was the relationship between aneurysm and heart attack?

Arteries that are not clean and healthy can cause all sorts of problems, with the heart, circulation and other conditions. Notice that below that it is because of the weakness in the wall of an artery or from fatty deposits (plague) that may cause Aneurysms.  Notice the info below taken from:

www.brainfoundatin.org.au

"Cerebral aneurysm is a common disorder caused by a weakness in the wall of a brain artery. It may be congenital, or come from pre-existing conditions like hypertension or atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the arteries), or very rarely from head injury. Aneurysms are present in probably 2% or more of adults, and multiple aneurysms occur in more than 10% of these.

Cerebral aneurysms are much more common in adults than in children and more common in women than in men, but can occur at any age. Before an aneurysm ruptures there may be a minor “warning” haemorrhage with a sudden headache, often not very severe but different from one’s usual headaches; more often the individual is asymptomatic, with no complaints at all. Onset is usually explosively sudden and without warning, with very severe headache, nausea and vomiting, and temporary loss of consciousness. Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is very dangerous, leading as it does to bleeding around or in the brain, often resulting in an intracranial haematoma (a mass of blood—usually clotted—within the skull). Sudden death, recurrent bleeding, hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation in the brain of cerebrospinal fluid), or vasospasm (delayed narrowing of the arteries) may occur."

I am guessing that the web site you were referring to was brainfoundation.org.au and you had a typo. So are you saying that the weak arteries causes an aneurysm and that can cause a heart attack? I am slow I guess because I don't understand the link yet. I know dirty arteries can cause heart attack, but don't get how the ameurysm fits. Thanks for trying to explain.

Sorry about the typo!

The info I found which I copied and pasted below gives the reason why an aneurysm may occur. Below that I pasted info on why heart attacks occur. Does that sense??

What causes a brain aneurysm?


A person may inherit the tendency to form aneurysms, or aneurysms may develop because of hardening of the arteries and aging. Some risk factors that can lead to brain aneurysms can be controlled, and others can't.

What Causes an Aneurysm?

The force of blood pushing against the walls of an artery combined with damage or injury to the artery's walls can cause an aneurysm.

A number of factors can damage and weaken the walls of the aorta and cause aortic aneurysms.

>Aging, smoking, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis (ath-er-o-skler-O-sis) are all factors that can damage or weaken the walls of the aorta. Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to the buildup of a fatty material called plaque (plak).

What Causes Heart Attacks?<BR
Most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is the buildup over time of a material called plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. Eventually, a section of plaque can break open, causing a blood clot to form at the site. A heart attack occurs if the clot becomes large enough to cut off most or all of the blood flow through the artery.

The blocked blood flow prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery. The lack of oxygen damages the heart muscle. If the blockage isn't treated quickly, the damaged heart muscle begins to die.

Heart attack also can occur due to problems with the very small, microscopic blood vessels of the heart. This condition is called microvascular disease. It's believed to be more common in women than in men.

Another less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery that cuts off blood flow through the artery. These spasms can occur in coronary arteries that don't have CAD. It's not always clear what causes a coronary artery spasm, but sometimes it can be related to:

• Taking certain drugs, such as cocaine
  
  
  
• Emotional stress or pain
  
  
  
• Exposure to extreme cold
  
  
  
• Cigarette smoking

The aneurysm does not cause a heart attack. Certain factors of both conditions are caused by different things but did you notice that heart disease and plaque are contributors.