Can Abdominal aortic aneurysm go away on its own?

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Short answer What happens next Common questions Related questions Sources

Short answer

**No, an abdominal aortic aneurysm does not go away on its own.**

This bulge in your main abdominal artery needs ongoing medical care, even if you feel well. A small aneurysm may stay stable for years, but regular ultrasound scans check for growth. Your clinician uses its size, growth rate, symptoms, and your overall health to decide whether you need repair. Quitting smoking and controlling your blood pressure help protect your arteries but do not reverse the bulge.

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What happens next

1**Keep your scans:**Follow your clinician's imaging schedule even when you have no symptoms.

2**Quit smoking:**Ask your clinician for help choosing a smoking cessation treatment.

3**Manage blood pressure:**Take your prescribed medicines and ask what blood pressure target fits your health.

4**Discuss repair:**Ask your clinician whether your aneurysm's size, growth, or symptoms warrant a vascular surgeon's assessment.

5**Get emergency care:**Call 911 if you develop sudden, severe abdominal or back pain, especially with fainting.

Common questions

Can Abdominal aortic aneurysm go away on its own?

No. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a lasting widening of the main artery in your abdomen and does not heal on its own. If yours is small and causes no symptoms, your clinician may recommend regular ultrasound scans to track its size. A large, rapidly growing, or painful aneurysm needs assessment for repair. Quit smoking and take prescribed blood pressure medicines to help protect your arteries; these steps do not make the aneurysm disappear. Call 911 for sudden, severe abdominal or back pain, especially with fainting.

SourcesCDC: About Aortic Aneurysm NHS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm