Risk factors for aneurysms include:
- Age and gender. For example, aneurysms in the abdomen (belly area) are more common in older men. Aneurysms in the brain are more common in women after the age of 45.
- Family history
- Obesity, history of smoking, or alcoholism
- High blood pressure
- Atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty deposits, called plaque, inside the arteries) and high cholesterol
- Car accidents and chest trauma
- Prior aneurysms
- Lower risk of an abdominal aneurysm is associated with:
- Female gender
- Non-white race
- Diabetes
Last Updated February 2023