Intro / Summary
Most people who present with aortic dissections have had a long-standing history of uncontrolled high blood pressure, and on top of atherosclerosis, which is kind of the hardening of the blood vessels related to plaque and cholesterol that develops inside blood vessels over time — years to decades. So it’s a combination of these effects that ultimately injures the inner lining of the aorta and sets up the possibility of aortic dissection.