Next Steps

Prevention

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

• Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
  
  
• Get active: Take part every day in some activity that increases your heart rate to the rate recommended for your age and overall condition. At least 30 minutes a day is ideal.
  
  
• Don't smoke.
  
  
• Control your blood pressure.

If you are found to have an aortic aneurysm less than 5 cm in size, it should be watched carefully by your primary care provider. 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.