Risk factors for having aortic dissection
Many factors can increase your chances of having aortic dissection. Identifying these factors early will increase your chances of getting early treatment and make you less susceptible to complications. Risk factors for aortic dissection include:
- Atherosclerosis [3] (or buildup of plaque in the arteries) or cholesterol and smoking.
- Aortic aneurysm. This is an abnormal enlargement or bulge in the aortic wall.
- Connective tissue disorders, like Ehlers-Dalon’s syndrome and Marfan syndrome. These disorders are genetically linked problems that can be inherited.
- Strenuous weight lifting may increase the progression of development of aneurysms or dissection in people with weakened aorta.
- Constant high blood pressure (hypertension). This is the most popular risk factor. Studies show that high blood pressure [4] has a direct effect on the layers of aortic tissue, causing loss of elastic fibers, increased wall stiffness, and degradation of the wall structure.
- Other hereditary thoracic aortic conditions that have direct effects on the aorta that can also be inherited.
- A history of aortic dissection in your family.
- Vasculitis, such as aortitis [5]. This inflammatory disease affects the body’s blood vessels.
- Age between 50 and 65 years. The aortic wall’s elasticity reduces.
- Congenital (“born with”) heart conditions like a bicuspid aortic valve (has two leaflets instead of the normal three) or Turner syndrome [6].
- Activities that lengthen periods of high blood pressure. For example taking cocaine or amphetamine for a long time may make you more susceptible to dissections.
- Being pregnant and experiencing high blood pressure during childbirth.
- Aortic valve disease [7].