Aneurysm: The Silent Threat in India's Health Landscape

Suryavanshi IAS Insight | UPSC-Oriented Analysis

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 What is an Aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a silent yet dangerous medical condition where the wall of an artery weakens and bulges like a balloon due to blood pressure. While seemingly benign at first, a ruptured aneurysm—especially in the brain or aorta—can result in sudden death, internal bleeding, or stroke.

Despite being common in developed nations’ discourse, aneurysms remain underdiagnosed and poorly tracked in India—making it a critical public health blind spot.

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 Types and Locations

·        Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) – Aorta in the abdomen

·     Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) – Chest region of the aorta

·     Cerebral Aneurysm – Arteries in the brain

·      Peripheral Aneurysm – Legs, neck, groin

·      Visceral Aneurysm – Spleen and intestine

These locations dictate symptoms and risk level. Often, aneurysms show no early symptoms, making routine diagnostics vital.

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 A Growing but Invisible Burden

Globally, aneurysm-related deaths rose from 94,968 in 1990 to 172,427 in 2019, marking an 81.6% increase.

In India, there's limited national data. However, rising hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and ageing populations signal an inevitable public health crisis, especially as:

·         Hypertension has now surpassed smoking as the top risk factor globally.

·         Women over 55 face 1.5x greater risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture.

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 Symptoms of a Ruptured Aneurysm (Emergency):

·         Sudden severe headache

·     Vision problems

·      Chest or abdominal pain

·      Pulsating lump

·      Vomiting, dizziness, unconsciousness

 Note: These symptoms mimic other diseases—leading to misdiagnosis or delay, especially in rural and tier-2 India.

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 Treatment and Management

1. Non-Surgical Management:

·         Monitoring small aneurysms

·         Lifestyle modifications

·         Controlling BP, cholesterol, smoking

·         Medications to reduce rupture risk

2. Surgical Options:

·         Open Surgical Repair

·         Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) – minimally invasive, ideal for high-risk patients

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India’s Policy Gaps and Opportunities

Gap	Public Policy Opportunity
Lack of awareness	National IEC campaigns via NHM
No mass screening	Integrate in Ayushman Bharat health checkups
Shortage of specialists	Incentivize vascular surgery specialization
Urban-rural divide	Telemedicine for remote diagnosis & referrals
Weak emergency response	Strengthen 108 ambulance and trauma network

 

UPSC Relevance

·         GS Paper II: Health Governance, Policy Implementation

·         GS Paper III: Science & Tech in Medicine, Disaster Preparedness

·         Essay Paper: Health Equity, Ageing Society

·         Ethics Paper: Medical Neglect vs Structural Barriers

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Way Forward: UPSC-ready Points

Epidemiological Surveillance of aneurysms under NPCDCS
Pan-India vascular risk registry
Research grants for indigenous diagnostics (e.g., AI-based vascular imaging)
Emergency insurance & public-private partnerships for surgical care
Capacity building of district hospitals for basic aneurysm care

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 Conclusion:

India stands at a critical juncture in its health transition. As non-communicable diseases surge, conditions like aneurysms remain invisible enemies. UPSC aspirants must recognise that public health is not just about hospitals, but about early detection, policy foresight, and structural reforms.

“In the race to cure what’s seen, don’t let what’s hidden silently burst.” – Suryavanshi IAS

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