What Is a Ballooning Artery?

Arteries damaged by disease, genetic traits, or severe trauma may swell like a balloon and result in an aneurysm. 14,000 Americans die each year from the most typical type of aneurysm, with thousands more affected by bulging arteries in other bodily areas.

Identification

• A ballooning artery refers to an aneurysm, a condition that occurs when the walls of an artery bulge like a balloon. It is the result of a medical condition weakening the artery so that blood pressure forces the wall outward.

Significance

• An aneurysm may grow and rupture or cause a dissection, which is a split in the artery wall. This can result in dangerous internal bleeding, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Either event may result in death.

Types

• The majority of aneurysms occur in the aorta, the major artery traveling through the chest and abdomen. Brain aneurysms also carry an extreme risk of fatality. As many as one in 15 people in the United States will develop a brain aneurysm at some point.

Description

• An aneurysm occurring in the chest area of the aorta is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm, while bulges in the stomach area are referred to as abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Symptoms/Treatment

• A ballooning artery often occurs without causing any symptoms. When it is discovered, medications are prescribed to lower blood pressure. Surgery can repair large aneurysms.