Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Causes

What causes abdominal aortic aneurysm?

An aortic aneurysm develops in the part of the aorta that is located within the abdomen. The disease can occur if the wall of the aorta becomes weakened by an accumulation of fatty deposits called plaque. Aneurysms may also be due to inherited diseases, such as Marfan’s syndrome, that affect the connective tissue of the body, including the walls of the aorta. In addition, tobacco use, high blood pressure, and infection of the aorta all play a role in the development of aneurysm in the abdominal aorta.

What are the risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm?

A number of factors increase the risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Not all people with risk factors will get an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm include:

• Advanced age
• Atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque on the walls of the coronary arteries; atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis)
• Caucasian race
• Family history
• Genetic diseases of connective tissue such as Marfan’s syndrome
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol
• Male gender
• Smoking and other tobacco use

Reducing your risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm

You may be able to lower your risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm by:

• Getting regular physical activity
• Maintaining normal blood pressure
• Quitting smoking and other tobacco use
• Reducing the amount of cholesterol and fat in your diet