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Aortic Aneurysm
- Overview
-
Health Tools
- FAQs
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Increases Your Risk
- When to Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Ongoing Concerns
- Living With an Aortic Aneurysm
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Call
- Sudden, severe pain.
- An extreme drop in blood pressure.
- Signs of shock.
If you witness a person become unconscious, call
Call a doctor immediately if you have:
- A pulsating mass in your abdomen.
- Sudden weakness in the lower extremities on one side of the body.
- Chest pain you have not experienced before.
- A "cold foot" or a black or blue painful toe for no apparent reason.
Call for a doctor appointment if you have:
- Pain in the chest, abdomen, or lower back, possibly spreading to the groin, buttocks, or legs. The pain may be deep, aching, gnawing, and/or throbbing, and may last for hours or days. It is generally not affected by movement, although certain positions may be more comfortable than others.
- Fever or weight loss for no apparent reason.
Who to see
Health professionals who can evaluate symptoms that may be related to an aortic aneurysm and order the tests needed for further evaluation of symptoms include:
- Family medicine physicians.
- Internists.
- Nurse practitioners.
- Physician assistants.
- Cardiologists or vascular surgeons.
If you have a fast-growing aortic aneurysm, you may be referred to a vascular surgeon, who can evaluate your need for surgery.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 26, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
