For many years, Google has been one of the first places people turn to after a diagnosis of aortic dissection. Patients and families often search for answers about symptoms, treatment, recovery, medication, family screening and long-term care.
That behaviour is now changing as more people are asking AI assistants the same questions. This creates new opportunities, but it also raises important concerns. Health information must be accurate, clear and always based on trusted sources.
The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust has been working hard to make sure that people affected by aortic dissection can find reliable information when they need it. Our resources are designed to be accessible online, easy to understand and available at every stage of the patient journey.
Information for when people are ready for it
After an aortic dissection, patients and families are often given large amounts of information. This may include printed leaflets, hospital booklets and discharge paperwork. These resources are important, but patient feedback shows that many people are not able to absorb everything at once. Some patients may also be too overwhelmed or fatigued to read and process information after discharge, making it important that trusted resources are available when they are ready.
Living with aortic dissection is a journey where questions often come later. Patients may want to understand their recovery after they return home. Families may need information about genetic screening. Others may look for advice on blood pressure, exercise, driving, dental care or emotional wellbeing months after treatment.
That is why the charity has focused on creating resources that are easy to access when people are ready. We have invested in online information, videos, visual resources and clear patient guidance. These formats help people return to trusted advice at the point they need it most.
Aortic centres across the UK and Ireland are also giving out our pocket-sized patient cards which includes a QR code and web address linking directly to our resources. Many patients keep the card in their wallet or pin it to the fridge. It gives them a simple way back to trusted information, without needing to remember where to search.
Filling the information gap
Search engines are still an important way for people to find health information, but AI assistants are becoming part of everyday life. Many patients and families now use AI tools to ask health questions. But the quality of an AI response depends on the sources it uses.
The charity has kept a close eye on the development of AI in health information and has contributed to a range of patient-focused and industry projects exploring how AI and large language models can better support people affected by aortic dissection. Our focus is that as people are going to ask AI tools questions about aortic dissection, we want trusted, specialist information to be part of the answer.
A leading trusted source
Recent aggregated UK data across major AI assistants shows that our website is being cited approximately 320 times each week in response to aortic dissection queries. It also shows that we have achieved 72% Google search visibility across tracked UK aortic dissection search terms. This makes the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust the leading online source among the organisations monitored.
These figures show that trusted information is reaching patients and families when they are looking for answers. Our information is being used as a main source for the new generation of AI-powered health information, as well as traditional search engines.
These results reflect years of work to build accurate, accessible and evidence-informed resources for patients, families, carers and healthcare professionals. They also show why it matters that trusted information is easy to find, whether someone searches on Google, scans a QR code or asks an AI assistant.
Help and support
Life with aortic dissection can bring questions at every stage of recovery and long-term care. Our patient resources are designed to be clear, accessible and easy to return to when you need them.
Find information on diagnosis, treatment, recovery, family screening, lifestyle, driving, emotional wellbeing and living well after aortic dissection.
Created by patients and clinicians
The strength of our information comes from the community behind it. The charity supports the largest UK and Ireland community of people affected by aortic dissection. This gives us a clear understanding of the questions patients and families ask in real life.
Our work is also shaped by clinicians, researchers, nurses and people with lived experience. Together, we are developing resources that support better understanding, better conversations and better long-term care.
The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust will continue to make sure that reliable information is available when people need it. Whether someone searches for health information. We want every person affected by aortic dissection to feel better informed, better supported and better able to navigate the journey ahead.
