14 Sep What are the symptoms of vascular dilation?
Vascular dilation, also known as an aneurysm, is a health condition that develops due to weakness in the wall of a blood vessel. This weakness leads to the bulging of a portion of the vessel and the accumulation of blood within it. Vascular dilation is a serious health problem that requires immediate medical intervention to prevent serious health complications.
There are several types or different areas where vascular dilation problems can develop. Typically, affected individuals do not experience any noticeable symptoms unless the dilation becomes significantly enlarged or if the dilated vessel ruptures, leading to internal bleeding and severe health risks. Dr. Amir Malkawi, a specialist in vascular surgery, will outline in the following article various common types of vascular dilation disorders and their accompanying symptoms.
Symptoms of cerebral vascular dilation
Many cases of cerebral vascular dilation, or brain aneurysms, are mild and do not cause health problems or clear symptoms. However, if they increase in size and exert pressure on surrounding tissues, they may cause the following symptoms:
- Tingling and numbness in the face and head.
- Dilated pupils.
- Headaches.
- Vision disturbances.
- Seizures.
- Pain above and behind the eyes.
As for cases where there is a rupture of the dilated blood vessels in the brain, symptoms may include:
- Blurred or double vision.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Mental confusion.
- Light sensitivity.
- Stiff neck.
- Weakness and numbness in the body.
Read More: Is Vascular Dilation Dangerous?
Symptoms of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Most cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm do not present with clear symptoms in the affected person, unless the dilation is large enough to exert pressure on nearby organs. Symptoms of abdominal aortic aneurysm in such cases may include:
- Intermittent or constant deep, throbbing abdominal pain.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Fever.
- Lower back pain, often radiating to the legs, upper thighs, and buttocks.
- Chest pain.
In cases where there is a rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm, the following symptoms may appear in the affected person:
- Severe, sudden pain in the abdomen or back.
- Fainting.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Severe drop in blood pressure.
- Chest and jaw pain.
- Weakness on one side of the body.
- Symptoms of vascular shock, such as increased sweating, rapid or weak pulse, and mental confusion.
Symptoms of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Thoracic aortic aneurysm can be serious and life-threatening if there is a rupture of the aorta or thoracic artery. In many cases, there may be mild dilation of the artery without progression, or it may gradually increase in size, causing the following symptoms:
- Coughing.
- Back pain.
- Hoarseness.
- Chest pain.
- Shortness of breath.
When there is a rupture of the thoracic aorta after dilation, the following symptoms may appear:
- Loss of consciousness.
- Severe drop in blood pressure.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Chest, jaw, and arm pain.
- Sudden, severe pain in the upper back that gradually moves downward.
Symptoms of Popliteal Artery Aneurysm
Popliteal artery aneurysm affects the main artery behind the knee and may cause the following symptoms:
- Pain when walking.
- Pulse behind the knee.
- Pain in the lower legs.
- Swelling behind the knee.
Symptoms of Carotid Artery Aneurysm
The carotid artery is responsible for supplying blood to the brain and passes through the neck. In some cases, there may be dilation of the blood vessels in the carotid artery (Carotid Artery Aneurysm), which can present symptoms similar to those of a stroke. Therefore, its symptoms require immediate emergency medical attention and may include:
- Difficulty walking.
- Inability to see clearly with both eyes.
- Difficulty speaking or understanding others.
- Speech difficulties.
- Sudden and severe headache.
- Loss of balance and dizziness.
- Numbness and tingling in different parts of the body.
References:
[1] – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156993
[2] – https://www.verywellhealth.com/aneurysm-5181456
[3] – https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16800-brain-aneurysm
[4]-https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-aortic-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350188
[6] – https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16843-extracranial-carotid-artery-aneurysm
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