1. Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Slideshow Pictures
2. Medical Illustrations of the Heart Image Collection
3. Take the Heart Disease Quiz!

Medical Author:

Shabir Bhimji, MD

Coauthor:

Bryan Hoynak, MD

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

View Full Profile

No medicine can prevent an aortic aneurysm. However, measures can be taken that will help keep blood vessels healthy and strong.

• Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
• Get active: Take part every day in some activity that increases heart rate to the rate recommended for the patient's age and overall condition. At least 30 minutes a day is ideal.
• Don't smoke.
• Control the blood pressure; the above methods can help and if necessary, the doctor may prescribe medication.

If a person is found to have an aortic aneurysm less than 5 cm in size, it should be watched carefully by their primary care professional. Regular ultrasound examinations will detect any growth or other changes in the aneurysm.

Some experts recommend screening for all individuals older than 55 years.

• Screening would detect many aortic aneurysms that otherwise go unrecognized because they cause no symptoms.
• Ultrasound examination of the abdomen is more than 80% accurate in screening for the existence of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Physical exam may not detect an aneurysm.

Must Read Articles Related to Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal Pain in Adults Abdominal pain in adults can range from a mild stomach ache to severe pain. Examples of causes of abdominal pain in adults include appendicitis, gallbladder dis...learn more >>

Back Pain Back pain may be caused by sciatica, a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, injury and pregnancy. Possible symptoms include pain that radiates down t...learn more >>

Blood Clots Blood is supposed to clot to help repair a blood vessel that is injured. Clots or thrombi become a problem when they form inappropriately. There are a variety o...learn more >>

See the Entire Aortic Aneurysm Topic Guide »