3. Aortic aneurysm
The term aneurysm is thrown around a lot, but many people don’t know what it means. In a nutshell, an aneurysm is the swelling of a vein or artery due to a weakness in the wall of the vessel. These aneurysms can come in various shapes, though the two most common are tubular and round. An aortic aneurysm is simply an aneurysm that develops in your aorta, as the name implies.
Having an aortic aneurysm puts you at immediate risk of developing an aortic dissection not long after. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two risk factors that could lead to an aortic aneurysm. Ultrasounds and CT scans are two of the most common methods used to diagnose an aortic aneurysm, though other methods such as X-rays may also be used in some instances.