When asked to study a disease, it was easy to choose due to the fact that his family suffered from heart problems. Marfan syndrome has struck home since my father was diagnosed, as well as my first cousin. The causes of this disease are not specific, except that it is a genetic disease. However, the symptoms are quite easy to detect when the doctor is informed of the family history. Since the causes are unclear, it is important for families to be aware of these symptoms. This disease has no cure (Ho 1978), but when the symptoms are experienced by a person carrying the disease, a lifestyle can be developed that can allow the carrier to lead a fairly normal life. These symptoms affect the heart and blood vessels, lungs, bones and joints, nervous system, teeth and eyes. Knowing these symptoms makes a difference for those who have been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome and/or those who believe they are genetic carriers of this condition. The first symptom concerns the heart and blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels have been shown to affect approximately 30-60% of people diagnosed with Marfan syndrome; heart and vascular problems are most common in the syndrome (Stout 1077). The aorta, heart valves and blood vessels surrounding the heart may be affected. It is important that early and correct diagnoses are identified before these areas can lead to life-threatening emergencies. The aorta may widen (aortic dilatation) and the walls of the aorta may swell, causing an aortic aneurysm (Dean 724). These are very serious problems since patients risk tearing or rupturing the aorta. Doctors use a “Z score” to describe the size of the aorta; however, the size of the aorta changes from childhood to adulthood (Dean 7...... middle of article......Web. January 16, 2014. Dean, John CS « Marfan Syndrome: Clinical Diagnosis And Management. » European Journal of Human Genetics 2007: 724-733. Academic Search Premier Web, January 16, 2014. Ho, Nicola CY, Joseph R. Tran and Arsun Bektas « Marfan's Syndrome 2005: 1978-1981. . Web. January 16, 2014. Judge, Daniel P. and Harry C. Dietz “Marfan Syndrome.” ed. Harvard Medical School: Family Health Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. . Kunz, Jeffrey RM, ed. The American Medical Association: Family Medical Guide New York: Random House Inc., 1982. Stout, Martin.. ». 2014.