What is it?
Aortic dissection is a serious disease that involves a tear over the inner layer of the aorta, a large blood vessel that branch from the heart.
What are the symptoms?
Aortic dissection manifests as:
- Sudden, severe chest pain that is described as tearing or ripping. The pain radiates to the neck or lower back.
- Sudden abdominal pain.
- Sudden, severe upper back pain.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing.
- Weak pulse in one arm or the thigh compared to the other side.
- Very pale and sweaty.