The aorta, one of the "great arteries," carries blood away from the heart to support circulation throughout the body. However, sometimes a tear in the lining of the aorta can occur, and while this is uncommon, it often requires immediate treatment. That's why it's important for people to be aware of common risk factors and symptoms.
Sujata M. Shanbhag, M.D.
, M.P.H.
, a program officer in the Heart Failure and Arrhythmias branch in NHLBI's Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, and Firas F. Mussa, M.D.
, a professor of vascular surgery at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas, Houston, respond to questions they often receive about aortic dissections—and discuss research underway. What is an aortic dissection? Dr. Shanbhag: An aortic dissection is a partial tear of the innermost lining of the aorta.
To give a sense of what kind of impact this can have, consider the length of the aorta: it curves upwards away from the heart, arching up to connect to smaller arteries near the neck and then plunges down through the chest and abdomen. Treatment decisions often depend on where the tear occurs and the risk it poses to other organs in the body. How many people have aortic dissections? Dr.
Mussa: Aortic dissections are often underdiagnosed, so it's hard to provide exact estimates. Recent data show that 13,000 Americans die each year from the condition. Most cases occur in adults ages 40 and older, but people with genetic risks can experience dissections at younger ages.
.