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How Symptoms Relate to AAA

Abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, occurs when the main blood carrier in the body, the aorta, develops a weakened spot. The aorta runs through the body's trunk from the chest to the abdomen and supplies blood to the stomach, hips and legs. Swelling from an aneurysm can cause the aorta to rip or burst, so it is a serious condition.

  1. Pain

    • As the aorta swells, the pressure can cause discomfort in the abdominal area and perhaps pain. During the early stages of the aneurysm, patients often feel a throbbing or pulsing in the stomach area, but they commonly experience little or no pain. Upon rupture, pain becomes intense, most often starting in the low back and then radiating throughout the trunk and into the hips and legs. Pain from a tear often begins suddenly.

    Clammy Skin

    • The rupture of the abdominal aorta causes blood to spill out into the abdominal cavity. Such internal bleeding means less blood circulates properly throughout the body, which can result in cold, sweaty skin. Accompanying symptoms, like dark or bloody stools, also indicate internal bleeding.

    Gastrointestinal Upset

    • Internal bleeding may manifest in vomiting. Vomit may be obviously bloody or may be dark red or black in color, which strongly indicates bleeding in the gastrointestinal system. People sometimes liken vomit associated with stomach bleeding to coffee grounds. The amount of oxygen in the blood affects the brightness of the color. Bleeding may also cause bloody, red or black stools. A slowly leaking aortic rupture may create small amounts of blood in the stomach and abdomen.

    Detection

    • In the early stages, an abdominal aortic aneurysm may be particularly difficult to detect since it may produce no obvious symptoms to the patient. As it grows, however, the swelling puts pressure on the other organs, sometimes causing pain or discomfort. Many patients discover their AAA accidentally during a procedure, such as an X-ray or ultrasound done for some other reason, or by a doctor during a routine physical. Therefore, patients with any AAA symptoms should discuss the issue with a doctor, particularly if they fall within the high-risk category: men; over 60 years of age; with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and emphysema; smokers and those overweight.

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