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Who Is at Risk for an Aneurysm?
Certain factors put you at higher risk for an aortic aneurysm. These factors include:
- Male gender. Men are more likely than women to have aortic aneurysms.
- Age. The risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms increases as you get older. These aneurysms are more likely to occur in people who are aged 65 or older.
- Smoking. Smoking can damage and weaken the walls of the aorta.
- A family history of aortic aneurysms. People who have family histories of aortic aneurysms are at higher risk for the condition, and they may have aneurysms before the age of 65.
- A history of aneurysms in the arteries of the legs.
- Certain diseases and conditions that weaken the walls of the aorta. Examples include high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
Having a bicuspid aortic valve can raise the risk of having a thoracic aortic aneurysm. A bicuspid aortic valve has two leaflets instead of the typical three.
Car accidents or trauma also can injure the arteries and increase the risk for aneurysms.
If you have any of these risk factors, talk with your doctor about whether you need screening for aneurysms.
Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for humans. To find clinical trials that are currently underway for Aneurysm, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
The NHLBI supports a national registry that enrolls patients with genetic conditions related to thoracic aortic aneurysms. The data collected through the GenTAC registry will help doctors and researchers better understand how genes, thoracic aortic aneurysms, and heart disease are linked. To learn more about GenTAC, visit https://gentac.rti.org/Home.aspx.
The NHLBI updates Health Topics articles on a biennial cycle based on a thorough review of research findings and new literature. The articles also are updated as needed if important new research is published. The date on each Health Topics article reflects when the content was originally posted or last revised.
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