Who is at highest risk for Aortic dissection ?
The exact cause is unknown, but more common risks include:
Aging Atherosclerosis Blunt trauma to the chest, such as hitting the steering wheel of a car during an accident High blood pressure
Other risk factors and conditions associated with the development of aortic dissection include:
Bicuspid aortic valve Coarctation (narrowing) of the aorta Connective tissue disorders Heart surgery or procedures Marfan syndrome and rare genetic disorders Pregnancy Swelling of the blood vessels due to conditions such as arteritis and syphilis
Aortic dissection occurs in about 2 out of every 10,000 people. It can affect anyone but is most often seen in men ages 40 to 70. </s>