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When to Seek Medical Care

Any time you experience chest pain or the sensation that something is "just not right" in your chest, consult a medical professional.

If you notice a strong pulse sensation, or a pulsating bulge in your abdomen, you should see your health care provider right away.

If the pain is new, severe, frightening, or feels to be tearing or ripping, go immediately to a hospital emergency department. Do not wait it out; immediate treatment can be life saving for aneurysm/dissection as well as in other conditions that cause chest pain.

If an aortic aneurysm ruptures, internal bleeding occurs. This is a medical emergency, because a person can bleed to death in a few minutes.

Severe back, flank, or abdominal pain may be the only symptom of an enlarging aorta. Many other conditions can cause these symptoms, but an aortic aneurysm is the most serious of these conditions.