Aneurysm, abdominal aortic
The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It transports oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when part of the aorta wall becomes weakened and the large amount of blood that passes through it puts pressure on the weak spot, causing it to bulge outwards to form an aneurysm.
The abdominal aorta is usually around 2cm wideabout the width of a garden hosepipe but can swell to over 5.5cm, which is what doctors classify as a large aneurysm.
It's not known exactly what causes the aortic wall to weaken, although increasing age and being male are known to be the biggest risk factors.
One study found that people aged over 75 are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with an AAA than people under 55 years old.
Men are around six times more likely to be diagnosed with an AAA than women.
However, there are other risk factors that you can do something about described belowthe most important of which is smoking.
Research has found that smokers are seven times more likely to develop an AAA than people who have never smoked.
The more you smoke, the greater your risk of developing an AAA. People who regularly smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day may have more than 10 times the risk of non-smokers.
The risk may increase because tobacco smoke contains harmful substances that can damage and weaken the wall of the aorta.
Atherosclerosisis a potentially serious condition where arteries become clogged up by fatty deposits, such as cholesterol.
An AAA is thought to develop because these deposits (called plaques) cause the aorta to widen in an attempt to keep blood flowing through it. As it widens, it also gets weaker.
Smoking, eating a high-fat diet and high blood pressure all increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis.
As well as contributing to atherosclerosis,high blood pressure (hypertension) can place increased pressure on the aorta's wall.
Having a family history of AAAs means that you have an increased risk of developing one.
One study found that people who had a brother or sister with an AAA were eight times more likely to develop one than people whose siblings were unaffected.
This suggests that certain genes you inherit from your parents may make you more vulnerable to developing an AAA.
However, no specific genes have yet been identified.
Read about how to reduce your risk of developing an AAA.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling (aneurysm) of the aorta the main blood vessel that leads away from the heart, down through the abdomen to the rest of the body.
In most cases, an unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) will cause no symptoms, unless it becomes particularly large.
The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when part of the aorta wall becomes weakened, causing it to bulge outwards to form an aneurysm.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) usually causes no symptoms. Therefore, they tend to be diagnosed as a result of screening, or during a routine physical examination when a GP notices a distinctive pulsating sensation in your abdomen.
Treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) depends on several factors, including the aneurysm's size, your age and general health.
The best way to prevent getting an aneurysm, or reduce the risk of an aneurysm growing bigger and possibly rupturing, is to avoid anything that could damage your blood vessels.
When trumpeter, Peter Cripps, had a CT scan for a kidney stone, an abdominal aortic aneurysm was also discovered.