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An aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling (aneurysm) of the aorta – the main blood vessels that leads away from the heart, down through the abdomen to the rest of the body.
The abdominal aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body and is usually around 2cm wide. Most aneurysm are
small and don’t need treatment, the blood vessel can swell to over 5.5cm.
If it bursts it can cause significant internal bleeding, which is usually fatal.
Somach pain could be a symptoms of an aortic abdominal aneurysm which can be a major medical emergency.
Experts don’t know exactly what causes abdominal aortic aneurysm although it is linked to atherosclerosis and the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries.
To reduce the risk of the condition, people can give up smoking, control blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and maintain a healthy weight.
However if an aneurysm becomes large it can cause pain, a pulsating feeling in your abdomen, or persistent back pain.
The condition affect more men than women and risk increases over the age of 65. People with a family history of the condition are also at greater risk.
