What Is the Main Cause of an Aneurysm?

An aneurysm is diagnosed with imaging tests such as Angiogram, Computerized tomography (CT) scan, and others.

An aneurysm is an abnormal ballooning or widening in an artery that occurs when part of an artery wall weakens.

Aneurysms can occur anywhere in the body. Common locations for aneurysms include:

• Aorta, the major artery from the heart (aortic aneurysm)
• Brain (cerebral aneurysm)
• In the leg behind the knee (popliteal artery aneurysm)
• Intestine (mesenteric artery aneurysm)
• Spleen (splenic artery aneurysm)

The causes of aneurysms are often unknown but may include: 

• Congenital birth defect
• Aortic disease 
• Injury 

Risk factors for developing an aneurysm include:

• Family history of aneurysm 
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol 
• Smoking

Aneurysms often have no symptoms because they develop slowly. 

If an aneurysm occurs near the surface of the skin, symptoms may include:

• Pain 
• Swelling 
• A visible throbbing mass

If an aneurysm swells quickly or ruptures, symptoms can develop suddenly and include:

• Pain
• Clammy skin
• Dizziness
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Fast heart rate
• Shock
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Death (in the case of rupture)

Additional symptoms for aneurysm depend on the location and may include: 

• Aortic aneurysm
  • A noticeable pulsation near the navel
  • Abdominal or back pain
  • A clogged blood vessel in a leg, which can lead to symptoms in the leg or foot such as pain, numbness, tingling, paleness, coolness to the touch
• Cerebral aneurysm
  • Bad headache
  • Facial pain
  • Blurred or double vision
  • If a cerebral aneurysm ruptures:
    • Sudden onset of pain
    • “The worst headache you’ve ever had” 
    • Stiff neck
    • Passing out
• Popliteal artery aneurysm
  • Pain behind the knee
  • Fluid collection (edema) in the lower leg
  • Foot pain
  • Ulcers on the skin of the feet that don't heal
• Mesenteric artery aneurysm
  • Severe abdominal pain after eating
  • Weight loss
  • Bloody bowel movements
  • Constipation or diarrhea
• Splenic artery aneurysm
  • Vague abdominal discomfort 
  • Left shoulder discomfort associated with irritation of the diaphragm

An aneurysm is diagnosed with imaging tests such as: 

• Angiogram
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan 
• Computerized tomography (CT) angiogram
• Ultrasound 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

A ruptured aneurysm is a medical emergency. Call 911 or get to a hospital’s emergency department immediately. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm, your doctor will want to monitor you for any changes to the aneurysm. 

Some treatments for aneurysms include: 

• Open surgery 
  • Clipping 
• Endovascular surgery 
  • Coils
  • Stents
  • Flow diversion devices

Complications of an aneurysm include: 

• Aneurysm dissection: the wall of the artery tears into layers and can cause problems with blood flow to vital organs
• Aneurysm thrombosis: blood clots 
• Embolization: a blood clot passes through the bloodstream, which can cause significant problems depending on the area affected
• Infection/inflammation

To lower the risks of developing an aneurysm, it is important to maintain healthy blood vessels, which can be done by:

• Keeping blood pressure in check
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Exercising regularly
• Not smoking
• Managing stress