A 42-year-old member asked:
What are causes of an aortic aneurysm?
8 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in

Dr. Laura Pakanswered
Vascular Surgery 29 years experience
Several things: About 5% of men over the age of 65 have abdominal aortic aneurysms. Risk factors include: increasing age, male sex, family history of aneurysm (may increase your risk 4-fold), hypertension, and history of smoking. Dissecting aneurysms can be caused by localized damage to to the artery from hypertension or trauma (deceleration or sheering-type injury) or catheter injury from an angiogram.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. ALADIN MARIANOanswered
Thoracic Surgery 50 years experience
Many: "causes" are associated problems that are thought to be the reasons. Remember, though, that association is not necessarily causation. That said, more important is what to do about presence of aneurysm. Since there is weakness in the "pipe", this needs to be evaluated whether treatment is necessary, urgent or elective, or not at all. Seeing a vascular surgeon for an opinion is needed.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Rick Kochanswered
Cardiology 23 years experience
Many: Many causes such as high cholesterol, smoking, uncontrolled BP and certain genetic causes as well as sudden deceleration injuries.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

A Verified Doctoranswered
Surgical Oncology 19 years experience
Multiple factors: Smoking and certain genetic factors contribute to the development of aortic aneurysm. Maintaining a normal cholesterol and lipid profile can help reduce your risk too.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Gholam Mohammadzadehanswered
Specializes in Vascular Surgery
Known risk factors: Certain aneurysms are caused by genetic predispositions that is caused by such conditions as marfan's syndrome. Otherwise the usual cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and smoking.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Jonathan Ellichmananswered
Vascular Surgery 23 years experience
Congenital or acquir: There is a 10% family inheritance if you have a first degree relative with an aneurysm. There is a strong disposition between smoking and hypertension as well..
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Mario Matos-Cruzanswered
Thoracic Surgery 40 years experience
Cysticmedialnecrosis: The aorta is a living organ. Has 3 layers. Intima, media, adventitia. The aortic wall is nourished by the vasa vasorum. Arteriosclerosis creates cholesterol plaque, the vasa vasorum occlude, the media slowly dies and becomes replaced by collagenous tissue, pressure and Collagenase activity weaken wall and it dilates excessively, if not repaired claims 17, 000 americans/yr.70%infrarenal.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. David Earleanswered
General Surgery 32 years experience
Unknown : There are factors thought to be associated with the development of an aortic aneurysm such as genetic problems with an enzyme called elastase, other types of collagen disorders, and possibly hypertension. It is difficult, if not impossible, to detect the specific cause for most individual patients.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 33-year-old member asked:
What could cause an aortic aneurysm to burst?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Michael Murrayanswered
Breast Surgery 34 years experience
Ruptured aneurysm: An abdominal aneurysm can rupture for many reasons. Most common is size. As the aneurysm enlarges the wall gets weaker. We know that aneurysms over 5 cm have a higher rupture rate and those should be operated on electively. Other factors making rupture more likely would be uncontrolled high blood pressure and infection in the wall of aneiurysm.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
How are aortic aneurysms caused?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Timothy Wuanswered
Vascular Surgery 19 years experience
Aortic Aneurysms: It is not entirely clear exactly what causes aortic aneurysms, but we know of a few risk factors, probably the most significant of which is smoking. Other risk factors include atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. There is also a hereditary component, so these can run in families. There are also genetic syndromes such as Marfan's or ehlers-danlos which are associated. See a vascular surgeon.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
CA
A 24-year-old member asked:
What is the typical underling cause for aortic aneurysm?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Louis Grenzeranswered
Cardiology 56 years experience
Lot of things: Atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), aging, infection (syphilis for one), traujma, some congenital problems such as marfan's or ehlers-danlos where there is inherited weakness in the artery wall, and inflamation. Hypertension can cause a "dissecting aneruysm" ( a tear in the aorta).
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Can lifting cause an aortic aneurysm to rupture?
2 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Khashayar Salartashanswered
Vascular Surgery 30 years experience
Yes: Lifting or any kind of strenuous exercise will increase the blood pressure. If this happens in a sudden fashion then conceivably the aneurysm can rupture. A lot depends on the size of the aneurysm as well.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 46-year-old member asked:
What is an aortic aneurysm?
4 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in

Dr. Francis Uricchioanswered
Cardiology 39 years experience
Large aorta: An aortic aneurysm is an aorta which is larger than it should be. This is typically due weakness of the walls of the aorta. This weakness can be secondary to degenerative change, congenital (born with it) abnormalities of the wall of the aorta, or trauma.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 26, 2018
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