Intro / Summary
UAB vascular surgeon Dr. Adam Beck described the condition as dangerous and potentially fatal. "It's a very severe, abrupt chest or back pain, and patients will often describe it as the most severe pain they've ever had when it occurs," Beck said. "It's not subtle, and some of the other symptoms they'll have are shortness of breath, (and) depending on where the dissection is, it may cause issues with blood flow to things like your brain. It can present like a stroke or abdominal pain and leg weakness."