image by: Aortic Dissection Awareness UK

HWN Suggests

Medical Ignorance Contributes to Toll from Aortic Illness

A common misconception among physicians is that aortic disease is rare... Another misconception is that little can be done about aortic aneurysms. The reality is that improvements in diagnostic-scanning methods introduced since the 1980s, and greater experience with aortic surgery, have vastly enhanced the ability to detect and repair aneurysms.

Behind these misconceptions is an anomaly in the medical profession's structure: There is no medical specialty devoted to treating or educating others about the aorta. Aortic disease "falls squarely between about four different specialties," says Eric Isselbacher, a cardiologist at Harvard Medical School. "There's an education gap among physicians…

read full article

Featured

 Understanding aneurysms

What you need to know about these uncommon but much-feared blood vessel abnormalities.

Previously Featured

An open letter to patients with Aortic Disease

Being diagnosed with an aortic problem usually comes as a surprise. Most patients are completely unsuspecting that there is a potentially life-threatening problem lurking deep in their chest or abdomen.

Do you know the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm? I wish my brother had

From prior experience, Michael’s friend knew that chest pain radiating to the back is a common sign of aortic dissection. Yet the physician missed this. He took an X-ray of Michael’s chest and explained that he couldn’t see anything wrong.

Learning to Defuse the Aorta

When Dr. Hal Dietz arrived at Johns Hopkins University in the 1980s, he became obsessed with helping children with Marfan syndrome, a rare and often fatal disorder that can cause the aorta, the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart, to grow and grow until it bursts. That journey has led to surprising discoveries about Marfan’s causes and a soon-to-be published clinical trial of a drug that may help its sufferers.

Resources

BadAorta

Hi. My name is Grayson Wheatley. I'm a board-certified heart surgeon and an expert in aortic surgery. In my spare time, I run this blog to help patients better understand their medical problems.

John Ritter Research Program

Welcome to The John Ritter Research Program in Aortic and Vascular Diseases at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Our mission is clear: We are working to prevent premature deaths due to thoracic aortic disease by improving diagnosis, treatment, and public awareness of this disease.

The Marfan Foundation

The Marfan Foundation creates a brighter future for everyone affected by Marfan syndrome and related disorders.

Bicuspid Aortic Foundation

The Bicuspid Aortic Foundation is committed to promoting the well being of those affected by thoracic aortic disease and supporting the pioneering work of dedicated aortic physicians on the leading edge of treatment

Texas Heart Institute

Treatment depends on the size and location of your aneurysm and your overall health. Aortic aneurysms in the upper chest (the ascending aorta) are usually operated on right away. Aneurysms in the lower chest or the area below your stomach (the descending thoracic and abdominal parts of the aorta) may not be as life threatening.