Name: Ann H.
Status: educator
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999-2001
Question:
A friend of mine ( 45 year old male who does not smoke or
drink but has family hx of heart disease) recently died and his autopsy
stated the cause of death as Aortic Calcification. Does this mean he had
a heart attack due to the calcification causing malfunction or what?
Replies:
Calcification of the aorta will decrease its ability to distend when the
heart pumps on each beat...I cannot say for sure from the meager information
provided but my guess is his aorta blew out which for young people who die
of heart attacks is not that unusual.
Peter Faletra Ph.D.
Office of Science
Department of Energy
I have not heard of this condition per se. The aorta is the main artery
leaving the heart. It is very elastic because it has to pump a huge amount
of blood under great amounts of pressure to all parts of the body. If it
becomes calcified, it hardens and perhaps it couldn't expand efficiently
enought to supply enough blood, fast enough to all parts of the body.
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