First of all, the aorta is an artery and the body’s major blood vessel. It runs from the heart down the torso where it splits into two branches, one for each leg.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm happens when there is an enlargement of the aorta in the stomach area.

The aneurysm usually does not cause any discomfort, although it can be suspected by throbbing in the abdominal area, lower back pain and chest tenderness. The symptoms are sudden and strong abdominal or back pain, fast pulse and low blood pressure.

Its bursting can be life threatening as it causes internal bleeding.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm may be caused by atherosclerosis, but also heredity or injury. Smoking also increases your risk of developing this condition. Atherosclerosis is associated with a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

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