What causes Abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Last updated September 7, 2026.
**An abdominal aortic aneurysm develops when the wall of your main abdominal artery weakens and bulges outward.** The exact cause is often unknown, but smoking, high blood pressure, and inherited factors increase your risk. Your risk also rises with age, and the condition is more common in men. Having a parent or sibling with an aneurysm is a reason to discuss your risk with a clinician. Avoiding tobacco and managing your blood pressure support your artery health, although they cannot guarantee prevention.
What to do
- **Avoid tobacco:** If you smoke, ask your clinician about medicines and counseling to help you quit.
- **Manage blood pressure:** Take prescribed medicines and discuss your blood pressure target with your clinician.
- **Share your family history:** Tell your clinician if a parent or sibling has had an aortic aneurysm.
- **Ask about screening:** Discuss whether your age, smoking history, or family history makes an ultrasound appropriate.
- **Get emergency help:** Call 911 if you develop sudden, severe belly or back pain, especially with fainting.
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