RE: [APML] Sad news!

["Dale Ireland" <direland@drdale.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-astro-photo@seds.org [mailto:owner-astro-photo@seds.org]On
>
> Thanks to Marco and T. Lim about the passing of Yuji  Hyakutake.

Hello
I am sorry if this is too off-topic for the list but perhaps the death of
Hyakutake may serve another purpose here by raising some awareness regarding
the dangers of aortic aneurysms. This is an all too common cause of death.
There are many misconceptions about it, some of which I have noted in the
posts here the past two days. My own father survived one this past summer, a
miracle considering the survival rate is less than 10%. He owes this to the
rapid response of Medic One units and surgery within 2 hrs.
Many people think the Aorta is part of the heart but it is actually a large
vessel extending most of the way down the back. These ruptures usually occur
in the mid-back region and the huge amount of blood loss leads to quick
death. However they are often preceded by months of non-specific symptoms,
fatigue, back pain, etc and surgical intervention can repair an aneurysm
before a fatal rupture. They also have a very high genetic tendency. My
Grandfather died at the same age as Hyakutake of a "massive heart attack"
but looking at the symptoms 50 years later it may have actually been an
aneurysm. After my father's experience our doctor suggested screening for me
and siblings, which is easy by ultra sound or CAT scan. Anyone with a family
history of aneurysms or massive fatal heart attack should consider asking
their physician if such screening might be indicated.
Dale


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