The diameter of the aorta can increase and the vessel can dilate. In medicine, we call this an "aneurysm."
Symptoms of an aortic aneurysm include chest or abdominal pain, a pulsating mass, and signs of compression of neighboring organs: shortness of breath, cough, hoarseness (dysphonia), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and swelling and bluish discoloration (cyanosis) of the face and neck.
Aneurysms in the abdominal part are called abdominal aortic aneurysms. Symptoms include deep pain in the back or the sides of the abdomen, and coldness and numbness in the legs
Symptoms of thoracic (chest) aortic aneurysms include pain in the jaw, neck, back, or chest, cough, hoarseness, or difficulty breathing.
Symptoms of peripheral aneurysms include a pulsating mass and pain felt in the neck, arm, or leg.
Information on this site is general and does not replace an examination by a doctor.