Identification

• In the normal course of things, oxygen-rich blood is pumped out of your heart and sent to other parts of your body through the aorta, the largest artery in your body. The portion of the aorta that travels through your chest is called the thoracic aorta, while the section that runs through the abdomen is called the abdominal aorta. When part of the abdominal aorta starts to weaken, it bulges outward. Over time, the bulge, or aneurysm, may grow larger and rupture. A rupture results in severe blood loss and possible death if it can't be repaired.
  
  

Symptoms

• In the early stages of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, you may not notice any symptoms. As the aneurysm grows larger, you may have severe pain in your lower back, groin or abdomen that begins very suddenly, or you may notice a pulsing in your abdomen that feels like a heartbeat. In some cases, pain, sores or discoloration of the feet or toes may occur. An aneurysm is in serious danger of rupturing if you have these symptoms, and you must seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
  
  

Risk Factors

• Your chances of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm increase if you have atherosclerosis, in which the walls of your arteries become clogged with plaque. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage the walls of the blood vessels and make an abdominal aneurysm more likely. Other risk factors include infections, injuries, high cholesterol and diabetes.
  A higher risk for developing aortic abdominal aneurysms seems to run in some families, and the condition can also occur because of defects in blood vessel walls present since birth. Men are more likely to develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm than women, and older male smokers are particularly at risk. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men ages 65 to 75 who have smoked at some point should receive a one-time screening to rule out the possibility of an aneurysm.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Your doctor may be able to feel a pulsating mass in your abdomen in some cases. If your doctor suspects an abdominal aortic aneurysm, she may ask you to have an abdominal ultrasound, a computed tomography (CAT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. These tests will provide a clear image of your aorta and allow your doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.
  
  

Treatment

• If you have a small aneurysm, your doctor may not recommend immediate treatment, but may suggest that it be evaluated regularly to make sure it has not grown. Large aneurysms can be treated by surgically grafting a blood vessel to replace the damaged part. An endovascular repair can also be done by placing a small fabric tube inside your aorta to reinforce the weak area.