How long does Abdominal aortic aneurysm last?
Last updated September 7, 2026.
**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.
What to do
- **Keep scan appointments:** Ask your clinician when you need your next ultrasound to check for growth.
- **Discuss repair timing:** Review your aneurysm's size, growth, and symptoms with your vascular specialist.
- **Quit smoking:** If you smoke, ask your care team for help quitting.
- **Manage blood pressure:** Take your prescribed medicines and follow your clinician's blood pressure plan.
- **Recognize an emergency:** Call 911 if you develop sudden, severe belly or back pain or faint.