**An abdominal aortic aneurysm does not heal on its own and can persist for years without symptoms.**
If you have an aneurysm, its size and growth rate help determine how long monitoring is appropriate before repair. Your clinician uses repeat imaging and your symptoms to recommend a scan schedule or surgery. A small aneurysm may need monitoring for years, while a large, rapidly growing, or painful aneurysm needs evaluation for repair. Quitting smoking and taking prescribed blood pressure medicines support your health but do not make the aneurysm disappear.
How aneurysms are watched
Common questions
How long does Abdominal aortic aneurysm last?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a lasting widening of your main abdominal artery, not an illness that clears in days or weeks. It does not heal on its own and may grow slowly for years without symptoms. Your clinician uses its size, growth rate, and your symptoms to decide between regular scans and repair. Keep your imaging appointments, avoid smoking, and take prescribed blood pressure medicines. A large, rapidly growing, or painful aneurysm needs evaluation for repair. Call 911 for sudden, severe belly or back pain or fainting.