An aortic aneurysm is a condition in which the walls of the aorta balloon out, usually due to weakness of the arterial walls. Aortic aneurysms are more common in the abdomen, but they can also occur in the chest. One risk of an aortic aneurysm is that it can rupture, causing massive internal bleeding.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the main causes of aortic aneurysms, "The Journal of the American Medical Association" explains. Around 90 percent of all people who develop aortic aneurysms have smoked, though the exact mechanism by which smoking promotes this arterial problem is not known. It may be a result of nicotine's ability to raise blood pressure, as high blood pressure has been directly linked to the development of aortic aneurysms.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis can also lead to aortic aneurysms, the Society for Thoracic Surgeons notes. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the walls of the arteries become damaged, causing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques, which are primarily composed of cholesterol, stiffen the walls of the arteries, which can make them less resilient and more prone to ballooning out. Atherosclerosis can also increase blood pressure.
Injury
Damage to the walls of the aorta is another cause of aortic aneurysms. Sometimes this is a result of an aortic dissection, which is a condition in which the different layers of the aorta become separated, the MayoClinic.com explains. An aortic dissection causes blood to seep in between the layers of the aorta and can weaken its walls. Trauma to the chest or abdomen can also damage the walls of the aorta, causing an aortic aneurysm.
Genetics
Some genetic conditions, including Marfan syndrome, can predispose patients to develop aortic aneurysm. Marfan's syndrome causes weakness in the body's connective tissue, resulting in decreased strength in the walls of the aorta.
Infection
One somewhat rare cause of an aortic aneurysm is an infection of the aorta, also known as vasculitis. When the aorta becomes infected with bacteria or a virus, the walls can become weakened both by the infection and by the body's immune response.
