An aortic aneurysm is a bulging in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the chest and torso. Dissection or rupture of an aortic aneurysm can cause bleeding inside the body and result in death. In 2019, 9,904 deaths in the US were attributed to aortic aneurysms or dissections, with 59% of these occurring among men. Smoking accounts for 75% of all abdominal aortic aneurysms. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that male individuals aged 65-75 who have ever smoked should get screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms through ultrasound, even if they have no symptoms. Risk factors for aortic aneurysm include smoking, certain inherited connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and family history of aortic aneurysm.


Medically reviewed by Dr Rehaam Ali Khan