AAA: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm – Definition

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) happens when the big blood tube in your belly, called the aorta, gets weak and swells like a balloon. This tube normally carries blood from your heart down to your legs and organs. As some people get older, smoke, or have high blood pressure, the wall of the tube can stretch and bulge without causing any pain or symptoms.

If the bulging part keeps getting bigger, it could pop and cause dangerous bleeding inside the body. Doctors keep an eye on the bulge using special pictures, like ultrasound or CT scans, to see if it is growing. When it’s small, they may just watch and wait. If it gets big or looks like it might burst, surgeons can fix it to make the aorta safe again.

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