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If you have an aortic aneurysm, it is important to follow your treatment plan and get ongoing medical care. Your doctor may recommend steps to prevent complications such as rupture or dissection.

Treatment for your aortic aneurysm will depend on its cause, its size and location, and the factors that put you at risk. Small aortic aneurysms may be managed with healthy lifestyle changes or medicine. The goal is to slow the growth of the aneurysm and lower the chance of rupture or dissection.

To diagnose an aortic aneurysm, your doctor will do a physical exam and an imaging test to confirm a screening test. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is diagnosed when your abdominal aorta is three centimeters or greater in diameter. The normal diameter of the thoracic aorta depends on your age, your sex, and which part of the thoracic aorta is measured.

An aortic aneurysm may not cause any signs or symptoms until the aneurysm ruptures or dissects. The types of symptoms that occur before a rupture will depend on the location of the aneurysm and whether it has become large enough to affect other parts of your body. An aneurysm that ruptures or dissects is life-threatening.

If you have known risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm, your doctor may recommend screening. To screen for an aortic aneurysm, your doctor may recommend an imaging study to look at and measure the aorta. An aneurysm can develop and grow without any symptoms until it ruptures or dissects—events that are both life-threatening. If the aneurysm is found early, treatment or surgery may slow its growth and prevent rupture or dissection.

You may have an increased risk of developing an aortic aneurysm because of your age, family history, genes, lifestyle habits, medical conditions, or sex.

Aortic aneurysms are caused by a weakening of the aortic wall due to damage or injury. Many health conditions and lifestyle habits can put you at risk for damage to the aortic wall, including high blood pressure and smoking. A bulge may occur where the wall has been damaged and is weakened.

There are two types of aortic aneurysms: thoracic aortic aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

If abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) isn't found and treated early, it can be deadly. Share this resource to encourage men age 65 to 75 who have ever smoked to talk with their doctors about AAA.

If abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) isn't found and treated early, it can be deadly. Share this resource to encourage men age 65 to 75 who have ever smoked to talk with their doctors about AAA.