When should you see a doctor for Abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Last updated September 7, 2026.
Call 911 for sudden severe pain in your abdomen, back, or side, and make a regular appointment if you have aneurysm risk factors or a known aneurysm that needs monitoring. The answer changes with whether you have symptoms. Most abdominal aortic aneurysms cause no symptoms at all and are found on an ultrasound or on a scan ordered for another reason, so screening matters more than waiting for a warning sign. A one-time ultrasound is recommended for men aged 65 to 75 who have ever smoked, and your doctor may suggest one if you have a parent or sibling who had an aortic aneurysm. Quitting smoking, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in your target range, and staying active are the habits that most affect how an aneurysm behaves over time. If you already have a diagnosis, the scheduled follow-up scans are what tell your doctor when repair is worth considering.
What to do
- Treat sudden pain as an emergency: Severe abdominal, back, or side pain with fainting or clammy skin needs 911, not a next-day appointment.
- Ask about screening once: If you are a man aged 65 to 75 who has ever smoked, ask your doctor for the one-time abdominal ultrasound.
- Share your family history: Tell your doctor if a parent, sibling, or child had an aortic aneurysm, since that changes screening advice.
- Keep every follow-up scan: With a known aneurysm, the repeat ultrasounds track growth and guide the timing of any repair.
- Stop smoking: Smoking is the strongest changeable risk factor for both forming an aneurysm and having it grow.
- Control blood pressure: Take blood pressure and cholesterol medicines as prescribed and check your readings between visits.
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