Aortic Aneurysm – Causes and Risk Factors

Lifestyle habits

Some lifestyle habits increase your risk of having an aortic aneurysm. These include:

• Cigarette smoking is one of the main factors that increases your risk for an aortic aneurysm, especially an abdominal aortic aneurysm. If you are a current smoker, an abdominal aortic aneurysm may grow more quickly and be more likely to burst.
• Stimulants such as cocaine, increase your blood pressure and your risk for an aortic aneurysm.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions that are risk factors for aortic aneurysms include:

• Aneurysms of blood vessels in other parts of your body
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cardiovascular conditions, such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and peripheral artery disease
• Unhealthy blood cholesterol level
• High blood pressure, which is the leading risk factor for thoracic aortic aneurysms but also a risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Bacterial infections, which are a risk factor for thoracic aortic aneurysms.
• Kidney conditions, such as renal failure, chronic kidney disease, and polycystic kidney disease
• Obesity
• Pheochromocytoma, a rare
  tumor
  of the adrenal gland that can lead to high blood pressure
• Trauma, such as from car accidents or falls, which is a risk factor for thoracic aortic aneurysms
• Vasculitis