An aneurysm is a bulge or ‘ballooning’ in the wall of an artery usually due to the weakening of a particular area. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Aneurysms can develop and become large before causing any significant symptoms.

If an aneurysm grows large enough, it can burst resulting in dangerous bleeding or even death. Two of the more common types of aneurysms are aortic aneurysms and brain aneurysms. Most aneurysms occur in the aorta, which is the primary artery that travels from the heart through the chest and abdomen. Aneurysms can develop anywhere along the aorta, but most occur in the abdomen and are called abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Aneurysms that occur in the part of the aorta that's higher up in your chest are called thoracic aortic aneurysms.  Aneurysms can also happen in arteries in the brain (called intracranial or brain aneurysm). Aneurysms can also occur in other parts of the body. If an aneurysm in the brain bursts, it leads to bleeding into the space surrounding the brain (called the subarachnoid space) causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This hemorrhaging can cause a stroke.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Aneurysms

 

What causes Aneurysms?

The majority of cases of aneurysms have are due to a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Some non-genetic factors that are thought to contribute to the risk of developing aneurysms include older age, narrowing of the aorta at birth (called coarctation of the aorta), high blood pressure, smoking, and heart disease or high cholesterol (for aortic aneurysms). People who have a family history of aortic aneurysm are also at increased risk of developing one. They will tend to develop aneurysms at a younger age and are at higher risk of rupture.

 

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