The Silent Aortic Aneurysm: Why Are So Many Missed Until It's Too Late?

Could a "pulled muscle"... constipation... loss of appetite... or back pain actually be the warning signs of an aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection?

The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham has sparked an urgent national conversation about one of medicine's deadliest and most overlooked conditions.

In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, I am joined by my co-host, Dr. John Phillips, and renowned vascular surgeon Dr. Sungho Lim from Rush University Medical Center to answer the questions millions of Americans are now asking:

• What exactly is an aortic aneurysm?

• What is the difference between an aneurysm and an aortic dissection?

• Why are so many people diagnosed only after a catastrophic emergency?

• What symptoms should never be ignored?

• Can back pain, abdominal pain, or chest pain be warning signs?

• Should people with high blood pressure be screened?

• Does family history matter?

• Why does the United Kingdom have a national abdominal aortic aneurysm screening program for certain men, while the United States takes a more limited approach?

This conversation is deeply personal for me.