What began as what seemed like an ordinary morning-after drinking symptom turned into a frightening medical odyssey for a Chinese man. The 33-year-old noticed his face had become unusually swollen following a night of drinking, but when the swelling persisted and spread to other body parts, he knew this was no typical hangover.
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Doctors initially suspected kidney problems due to high protein levels in his urine and sent him home with medication. But when his condition worsened – with added chest tightness and abdominal swelling – emergency physicians made a startling discovery. Advanced imaging revealed a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, a dangerous heart condition where part of the aortic wall had ballooned and burst.
Medical experts believe the rupture was triggered by intense physical activity after alcohol consumption. The case, documented in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, highlights how this rare condition can present with unusual symptoms like facial swelling rather than classic heart attack signs. After emergency surgery to repair the 24mm aneurysm, the patient fully recovered, though his case serves as a sobering reminder that not all swelling is benign.
