What are the symptoms of an aortic dissection?

Symptoms include:

• severe chest, back, and/or limb pain
• weakness, difficulty walking, slurred speech, or loss or vision
• loss of consciousness
• severe uncontrolled hypertension

In addition to considering other conditions (eg a heart attack or stroke), I should be urgently assessed for an aortic dissection.  The majority of aortic dissections require emergent surgery; without appropriate treatment, the risk of death increases 1-3% per hour.