Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

The main blood vessel in your body is the aorta (say: a-or-ta). It carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It is a long blood vessel that reaches from your chest into your abdomen. The part of the aorta in your abdomen is called the abdominal aorta. It supplies blood to your stomach, pelvis and legs.

An aneurysm (say: an-yur-izm) is a weak area in a blood vessel. If a blood vessel weakens, it starts to swell like a balloon and becomes abnormally large. If the aneurysm grows too large, your aorta may tear or burst.

The exact cause is currently unknown, but the following risk factors can increase your chances of developing an AAA:

Aneurysms are more common in older people, especially men over age 60. Your risk of an AAA is higher if you smoke or have high blood pressure. AAA may also run in families.

There are usually no symptoms present as the aneurysm develops. When the aneurysm leaks or tears, you may experience the following:

Talk to your doctor if you have a higher risk of an AAA or if you have any of the symptoms. Your doctor may order a test called an ultrasound. An ultrasound provides a picture of your organs by passing sound waves through your body. It can help measure the size of your aorta.

If your aneurysm is large or is growing quickly, you will most likely need surgery. If your aneurysm is small, your doctor may just monitor it using ultrasound tests.

It is important to prevent the aneurysm from bursting or tearing. You can help by quitting smoking and by working with your doctor to control your blood pressure and cholesterol.