India, May 3 -- Most people are familiar with the signs of a heart attack - sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, a sense of heaviness or pressure. But there's another serious medical emergency that can feel very similar yet is far less understood: Aortic dissection. Though rare, it is often deadly if not recognised and treated in time. What makes it particularly dangerous is how easily it can be mistaken for other conditions, especially a heart attack.

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It starts from the heart, travels through the chest and abdomen, and carries oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. You can think of it as the main highway of the circulatory system. The wall of the aorta has three layers, and under cert...