Are there things in my control that make aortic aneurysm more likely?

Yes: The aorta is the largest artery in the body and is vulnerable to the same factors that cause problems in other arteries. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking all increased the chances of aneurysm formation as does stimulant use (such as cocaine).

Some things...: Avoiding smoking and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol low helps to reduce chance of developing or delay progression of aortic aneurysm.