Abdominal aneurysms are a serious, life-threatening medical issue. Each year, approximately 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), which is most common in older adults.
What an Abdominal Aneurysm Is
An aneurysm is a weakened area in a blood vessel. When someone has a brain aneurysm, one of the cerebral arteries has weakened, causing the artery to bulge in or around the brain.
An abdominal aneurysm works in the same way but affects the abdominal aorta, which is the largest artery found in the abdomen. An aneurysm itself is worrisome, but the leading cause for concern is the potential for an aneurysm rupture.
As blood flows through the bulge created by the aneurysm, it further weakens the artery wall. Eventually, the pressure of blood flowing through can cause the artery wall to tear or rupture.
A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. When an aneurysm begins to leak or rupture, it can cause a variety of severe symptoms, including sudden pain in the back, abdomen or legs, low blood pressure, nausea, clammy skin, and increased heart rate.
Understanding Your Risk Factors for Abdominal Aneurysm
The vast majority of all abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in older adults, mainly in men older than 60. Researchers still aren’t entirely sure what causes an aneurysm. Still, certain factors can increase your risk, including being male, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, smoking, having had other aneurysms like a thoracic aortic aneurysm, and having a family history of abdominal aneurysms.
That last factor may be the most significant. According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, if you have a first-degree relative who had an AAA, you are 12 times more likely to develop one of your own.
Research into the exact causes of abdominal aneurysms and who is at risk is still ongoing. One 2023 study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine examined how and why aneurysms form.
Diagnosing an Aortic Aneurysm
Because older men are at the highest risk of developing an abdominal aneurysm, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend that men ages 65 to 75 who have smoked undergo a one-time AAA screening. Men who have a sibling or father who had an abdominal aneurysm should also have a one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
During screening, ultrasound tests are used to capture detailed images of the abdomen, allowing your medical provider to easily see any swelling in the aorta.
Treatment for an Aortic Aneurysm
If an aneurysm is detected, treatment will depend on the size of the aneurysm. Aneurysms typically grow slowly, so if you have a small abdominal aneurysm that isn’t causing symptoms, your provider may recommend monitoring the aneurysm with regular ultrasound tests.
In cases where an abdominal aneurysm is large or at high risk of rupturing, surgery may be recommended. Depending on your specific needs and overall health, your provider may recommend either open surgery or an endovascular aneurysm repair.
During an open procedure, the abdomen is opened up with a large incision and the damaged portion of the aorta is replaced with a graft. An endovascular aneurysm repair, on the other hand, is done through small incisions and involves weaving a thin tube called a catheter from a small incision point up to the damaged artery, then placing a stent and artificial graft in the artery to repair the aneurysm.
Both procedures are used to repair damage to the abdominal aorta, lessening the risk of a potentially deadly aneurysm rupture.
Prevention of Aortic Aneurysms
If you’re at risk of developing an AAA, you may wonder how to prevent it. Screening is one fundamental way to gauge your risk, but you can also lower your risk by taking steps to control other health issues, such as high blood pressure or diabetes and practicing healthy lifestyle habits.
Your best defense against abdominal aortic aneurysms and many other medical conditions is to take good care of your body by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, not smoking and finding healthy ways to manage stress.
More to Read
- What Is Vascular Disease?
- What Are Vascular Disease and Vascular Screenings?
- Why Exercise Impacts So Much More Than Your Waistline
- How Eating Added Sugar Puts You at Higher Risk for Health Issues
Medically reviewed by Shahab A. Toursavadkohi, MD.
