Who is at risk for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
Individuals with the following characteristics are at risk for developing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Males Age over 60 High blood pressure Family history of AAA Hardening of the arteries Smokers Lung problems Females and younger people can have aneurysms. How do I know if I have an aneurysm? The presence of an aneurysm and its increase in size seldom elicit symptoms. Most aneurysms are asymptomatic until they rupture. In thin people, an aneurysm can often be felt on physical exam but otherwise most aneurysms are found during diagnostic testing, or on screening exams. Ultrasound exam is one of the best initial screening exams available; however, CT scan is generally the test of choice once an aneurysm is felt to be large enough to be dangerous. What happens after an aneurysm is discovered? Decisions regarding the approach to an AAA are predominantly based on the size of the aneurysm and the risk profile of the individual. If small the aneurysm will be monitored every 6 to 12 months wit
