One of my favortie actors was John Ritter. I know he died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm while he was on the set of his show, and I heard his wife talking about the symptoms which seemed relatively vague. Is that usually the case with this medical problem? What should I be looking for? I am worried.
You are close; he actually died of an aortic dissection, which is a tear in the inner lining of the aorta. This is the largest artery in the body, which comes right off the heart and supplies blood to the entire body. It is frequently associated with an aortic aneurysm, which is a dilation, or enlargement of the aorta, which makes a person at risk for a dissection. High blood pressure is a common finding in these patients. The symptoms are usually not vague. It commonly causes very severe chest pain, frequently described as a knife like pain, which radiates to the back. Unfortunately, this condition is frequently fatal, and you need urgent medical attention if you suspect you, or a loved one, is having symptoms suggestive of this problem. It commonly requires emergency surgery, and the mortality rate is significant.
Expert: Cleveland Clinic
To learn more about aortic dissection, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
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