Both aneurysms and embolisms can block blood flow in cert
ain parts of the body.
What does embolism mean? What is embolism? What are the specific symptoms of aneurysms? What is an aneurysm?
Embolism and aneurysms sound similar in name and affect blood flow in the brain, but that's the similarity. Embolism blocks blood flow due to blood clots, while aneurysms cause bleeding due to rupture or distortion of arteries.
Learn how these two situations happen, how they relate, and what happens if they happen to you.
What is embolism?
What does embolism mean? What is embolism?
Embolism is a set of particles or clots that are shed from the walls of blood vessels and pass through the body. It usually consists of aggregated blood cells, fat, or cholesterol.
When these clots first form and still attach to the walls of blood vessels, they are called blood clots. Once the clot is detached and begins to move within the body, it is called an embolus. You may also hear your doctor refer to clots that have fallen off and moving inside your body as thromboembolism.
When the emboli move, they may become stuck in other blood vessels, cutting off vital blood flow somewhere in the body. Blood clots or places where embolism, movement, and jamming can cause the name to change again depending on the problem caused by the blood clot. These include:
- Pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is an embolus that blocks your pulmonary arteries.
- Ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when an embolus has traveled to your brain.
- Myocardial. A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is when an embolus supplying blood returns to the heart that becomes raised.
- Deep vein thrombosis. Thrombosis of deep veins of the nail occurs when large clots form in a deep vein, usually in the legs. If these clots break free and enter organs such as the lungs, heart, or brain, they can cause serious damage.
What is an aneurysm?
What are the specific symptoms of an aneurysm?
Aneurysms are when the artery walls become weak or damaged. These weak areas expand like balloons and eventually burst. This is usually caused by high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, both of which can cause the arterial wall to weaken.
When an aneurysm ruptures, it can lead to internal bleeding, which is a medical emergency. This can occur in certain parts of the body, including:
When aneurysms occur in different parts of the body, they may be called by other names. Examples include:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is when part of your aortic artery is ingested or ruptured in the abdomen. Because the aorta carries blood too much of your body, a rupture can quickly lead to massive bleeding that can be fatal. It may occur without warning symptoms.
- Hemorrhagic stroke. When a nail-bleeding stroke occurs, cerebral hemorrhage occurs in the interrupting flow to brain tissue.
Do blood clots work in these situations?
Blood clots are the root cause of some forms of aneurysm and embolism. Aneurysms can be caused by plaques or thrombosis that form in blood vessels, weakening the walls of blood vessels and causing rupture. Embolism is also the result of a clot or blood clot that breaks off the wall of a blood vessel and passes through the body.
What are the similarities between embolisms and aneurysms?
Both of these conditions can lead to the same effect – disruption of blood flow. When this happens in vital organs, such as the brain or heart, its effects can be fatal.
These organs require a constant blood supply, and brain tissue may begin to die in as little as 5 minutes without blood flow. Once brain tissue is damaged, it cannot be repaired.
The same goes for the heart. Almost as soon as the blood flow stops, the heart tissue begins to die and cannot be recovered. The overall extent of damage to the heart depends on how much tissue is affected before blood flow resumes.
Symptoms of aneurysms and embolism depend on the affected part of the body. Common symptoms include:
- Loss of consciousness
- dizzy
- confused
- Increased heart rate
- Bleeding
- Shortness of breath
- cardiac arrest
How are they different?
The difference between these two conditions is how they cause the blood to stop flowing. For aneurysms, blood vessels rupture, leading to internal bleeding. This, in turn, destroys the blood entering the organ. For embolism, blood flow is blocked by particles trapped in the blood vessels.
Another difference is how these conditions are treated. If you are prone to blood clots, you may be prescribed medications to dilute the blood to prevent thrombosis. In the case of large embolus, powerful blood thinners such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be injected to quickly dissolve the clot.
Is there a link between embolism and aneurysm?
Both aneurysms and embolisms can disrupt blood flow. While the causes are different, the risk factors are similar.
Common risk factors for aneurysms and embolisms include:
- hypertension
- High cholesterol
- smoke
- corpulent
- pregnant
- History of heart disease or stroke
When to ask for immediate help
If one of your vital organs is affected by an aneurysm or embolism, immediate emergency medical care is key. The following symptoms may be a sign of either condition:
- Pain in the affected area, such as chest pain or headache
- Shortness of breath
- dizzy
Conclusion
Both aneurysms and embolisms can block blood flow in certain parts of the body. However, they each work differently. Whether your blood flow stops due to bleeding (aneurysm) or a clot (emboli), both can be fatal if there is insufficient blood flow to vital organs.
If you develop symptoms that indicate one of these conditions, seek urgent care immediately.