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• Aortic Disease
• Aortic Aneurysms
• Aortic Dissection
  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Risk Factors
  • Causes
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatments
  • Physicians and Services

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of aortic dissection are similar to those of other diseases, including heart attack, often leading to delays in diagnosis.  Since the aorta supplies blood to every organ in the body other than the lungs, there are many possible symptoms.

Most Common

These are the most common signs and symptoms of aortic dissection:

• Sudden, ripping or sharp pain in the chest or upper abdomen, which may radiate to the back between the shoulder blades
  
• Fainting
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Sudden weakness
  
• Stroke
  
• Cold sweats
  
• Paraplegia or the complete paralysis of the lower half of the body including both legs

Call 911

If you experience any of the above symptoms, call 911 immediately.