Can you feel abdominal aorta

View the changes to our visitor policy ». View information for Guest Services ». Access your health information from any device with MyHealth. You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill. Most people with abdominal aortic aneurysms don't have symptoms. But symptoms may occur if the aneurysm gets bigger and puts pressure on surrounding organs.

The most common symptom is general belly pain or discomfort, which may come and go or be constant. The symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other problems that cause chest or belly pain.

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Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Abdominal aortic aneurysm Open pop-up dialog box Close. Abdominal aortic aneurysm An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when a lower portion of the body's main artery aorta becomes weakened and bulges. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Dalman RL, et al. Overview of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Accessed July 27, Spryngerd M, et al. Screening program of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysms AAA. Merck Manual Professional Version.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Screening. Stopping smoking will also help to protect all of your arteries making it less likely that you will suffer from heart attacks or strokes. Giving up is not easy but there is a smoking cessation service and support groups that can help. Your vascular specialist nurse or GP practice nurse can advise you about these.

Gentle exercise such as walking and cycling are recommended to help to improve your overall level of fitness. Exercise helps your body to produce healthy cholesterol and this helps to protect your arteries against bad cholesterol.

High blood pressure. High blood pressure is a known risk factor for rupture of aneurysms. If you have been prescribed medication for high blood pressure, you must make sure that you take it according to the instructions given. If you have diabetes it is important that your blood sugar levels are well controlled. High blood cholesterol levels fatty substance in your blood. You should eat a healthy balanced diet and try to reduce any excess weight.

It is important to reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood: you will be given advice on how to do this. Your vascular nurse can refer you to a dietician if needed. You may be prescribed a statin drug to lower your cholesterol level and low-dose aspirin to help prevent blood clots from forming. The DVLA should be notified if your aneurysm reaches 6cm in diameter and you are allowed to continue to drive if you have had satisfactory medical treatment and there is no further enlargement of your AAA.

If your AAA reaches 6. More information and advice about vascular health. Whilst we make every effort to ensure that the information contained on this site is accurate, it is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and the Circulation Foundation recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional. The Circulation Foundation cannot accept liability for any loss or damage resulting from any inaccuracy in this information or third party information such as information on websites to which we link.

The information provided is intended to support patients, not provide personal medical advice. What is the aorta? What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm? AAA An aneurysm occurs when the wall of a blood vessel weakens and balloons out. What causes an AAA? How are aneurysms discovered?

Where is screening offered? Possible results of screening Normal no aneurysm detected : aortic diameter less than 3cm — most men have a normal result, require no further scans and are discharged from the screening programme Small aneurysm: aortic diameter What are the symptoms of an AAA?

If you do develop symptoms you may experience one or more of the following: A pulsing feeling in your abdomen, similar to a heartbeat Pain in your abdomen or lower back. Do I need an operation to treat my aneurysm? There are two types of operations that can be done to repair an aneurysm: Open surgery: this involves an incision in the abdomen and replacement of the affected section of blood vessel with a fabric tube Endovascular EVAR surgery : this is a form of keyhole surgery using a stent graft If your surgeon recommends an operation, they will give you more information.

Why do I need to have my aneurysm checked regularly? What is the chance of a small AAA rupturing? Do I need to take things easy?

Do not drive yourself to hospital. What can I do to help myself?