An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the aorta — your body’s largest artery — weakens and bulges in the abdominal area. If an AAA grows too large, it can rupture and cause severe internal bleeding.
Because an AAA can cause serious complications, it’s important to know your risk. Here, our providers share the top five risk factors of AAA, screening guidelines for AAA, and how the Vascular Specialists team can help you prevent aneurysm ruptures.
Certain factors increase your risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm, including:
These aneurysms occur most often in adults over age 65. Men develop this condition more often than women.
While men are four times more likely to develop an AAA, women face a higher risk of complications, including increased blood loss and a greater likelihood of ischemic events like strokes.
Smoking weakens the aortic walls and significantly raises the risk of aneurysm formation and rupture. This is true for AAA and other types of aneurysms, too.
Chronic hypertension puts extra stress on your aortic walls. When the walls of your aorta weaken, they’re more likely to bulge out and — in severe cases — rupture.
If you have a first-degree family member (parent or sibling) with an AAA, you have a one in five chance of developing one as well.
Plaque buildup in your aorta — called atherosclerosis of the aorta — contributes to aneurysm formation. Blockages from plaque buildup can also increase your risk of acute limb ischemia, acute ischemic colitis, and stroke.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms often have no symptoms until they become dangerous. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends a one-time screening for men age 65-75 who have a history of smoking. Men in that age range who haven’t smoked may also benefit from screening, but this is recommended on a case-by-case basis.
The task force doesn’t currently recommend routine screening for women who don’t have a history of smoking or a family history of AAA.
If an aortic aneurysm is found during your screening, your Vascular Specialists provider monitors its size and growth rate to determine the best course of action.
If you haven’t had a screening but suspect that you may have an AAA — they can cause lower back pain, groin pain, or abdominal pain — don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
While some aneurysms remain small and stable, others may grow and require intervention. You can reduce the chance that your aneurysm ruptures with:
If an AAA reaches 5.5 centimeters or shows rapid growth, we may recommend repair through open surgery or a less invasive endovascular procedure. We may recommend aneurysm repair for women if the AAA reaches 5 centimeters.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be silent but deadly, so if you’re at risk and suspect that you may benefit from screening, give us a call at 815-824-4406. Our Vascular Specialists team — with offices in Tinley Park, Illinois, and Munster, Indiana — can diagnose, monitor, and repair aneurysms.
You can also schedule a consultation online anytime.
