Let’s swallow the bitter pill of truth - while trying to keep up with the everyday hustle and bustle of modern life, we often tend to overlook our health and take things for granted. We prioritize quick meetings over a routine medical checkup, we pick stressful corporate retreats over PTOs (paid time off).
And out of nowhere, when we turn up for a health checkup one day - randomly - we end up discovering ‘n’ number of things that have already happened to our bodies.
The same happened to Sarah Blackburn.
Read on to know more.
What happened to Sarah Blackburn?
Sarah Blackburn took to TikTok to share her own experience and emphasize how important it is to get checked out for medical curveballs.
The TikToker went for a Prenuvo scan that claims to capture “millions of data points from head-to-ankle, including major organs, brain, and spine,” and ended up finding out that she had a splenic artery aneurysm.
As per Blackburn, she chose to go for a full-body MRI scan, given her family history of cancer - although the aforementioned scan costs $2,500 and is not covered by insurance. Her family’s extensive history of health problems served as a reminder of the importance of early detection and intervention. Sarah told PEOPLE, “I thought this would be a huge difference that could make or break the situation. I can get ahead of this."
Although Blackburn expected a clear scan due to her healthy lifestyle and a lack of symptoms plaguing her, the results took her by surprise.
The scan revealed she had a splenic artery aneurysm, a rare condition particularly dangerous for women who've had multiple pregnancies.
Blackburn shared how the discovery of such a rare disease took an emotional toll on her and her loved ones.
Despite the initial shock, Blackburn stayed strong and determined to see to the end of her disease. She sought guidance from multiple vascular surgeons, who all recommended the removal of her spleen due to the location and the size of the aneurysms.
One of her doctors finally pushed her to follow through with the operation, telling Blackburn, “If this was one of my loved ones, I would tell them this is the route to take.”
As per Sarah, “the surgery itself was pretty easy,” and successful, and she is now recovering and adjusting to life without her spleen.
What is splenic artery aneurysm?
A splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is a localized, abnormal bulge or dilation in the splenic artery, which supplies blood to the spleen and is the most common type of visceral artery aneurysm.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
What it is: A SAA occurs when a section of the splenic artery wall weakens and bulges outwards, forming a bulge or aneurysm.
Prevalence: SAAs are relatively rare, but they are the most common type of visceral artery aneurysm, accounting for about 60% of all visceral artery aneurysms.
Location: The splenic artery is a major branch of the celiac axis, and aneurysms typically occur in the middle or distal third of the artery near its bifurcation.
Symptoms: Many people with SAAs have no symptoms, and they are often discovered incidentally during imaging for other reasons. However, a ruptured SAA can cause severe abdominal pain, and in some cases, internal bleeding.
Risk Factors: While the exact cause of SAAs isn't fully understood, they are more common in women, particularly those with a history of multiple pregnancies. Other risk factors include:
Portal hypertension: Increased blood pressure in the portal vein system.
Pregnancy: The hormonal and physiological changes of pregnancy can weaken blood vessel walls.
Fibromuscular dysplasia: A condition that affects the walls of arteries.
Collagen vascular diseases: A group of diseases that affect the connective tissues of the body.
Complications: A ruptured SAA can be life-threatening, leading to severe internal bleeding and shock.
Treatment: Treatment options depend on the size and location of the aneurysm, as well as the patient's overall health.
Endovascular techniques: Procedures like coil embolization or stent grafting can be used to repair the aneurysm from within the blood vessel.
Open surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the aneurysm.
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