Symptoms

AAAs do not usually cause any obvious symptoms and are often only picked up during screening or tests carried out for another reason. Some people with an AAA have:

• a pulsing sensation in the tummy (like a heartbeat)
• tummy pain that does not go away
• lower back pain that does not go away

If an AAA ruptures, it can cause:

• sudden, severe pain in the tummy or lower back
• dizziness
• sweaty, pale, and clammy skin
• a fast heartbeat
• shortness of breath
• fainting or passing out

Diagnosis

The investigations used to diagnose and check the size of an AAA are CT Scan, MRI, and Ultrasound.

Causes

People at a higher risk of getting an AAA include all men aged 66 or over and women aged 70 or over who have one or more of the following risk factors:

• high blood pressure
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• high blood cholesterol
• a family history of AAA
• cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease or a history of stroke
• they smoke or have previously smoked

Speak to a doctor if you are worried you may be at risk of an AAA. They may suggest having a scan and making healthy lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of an AAA. 

Prevention

There are several things you can do to reduce your chances of getting an AAA or help stop one getting bigger. These include:

• stopping smoking – speak to your doctor about assistance to quit
• eating healthily – eat a balanced diet and cut down on fatty food
• exercising regularly – aim to do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week; read about how to get started with some common activities
• maintaining a healthy weight – use the healthy weight calculator to see if you need to lose weight, and find out how to lose weight safely
• cutting down on alcohol – read tips on cutting down and general advice about alcohol

If you have a condition that increases your risk of an AAA, such as high blood pressure, your Doctor may also recommend taking tablets to treat this.

The recommended treatment for an AAA depends on how big it is. Treatment is not always needed straight away if the risk of an AAA bursting is low. Treatment for a:

• small AAA (3cm to 4.4cm across) – ultrasound scans are recommended every year to check if it is getting bigger; you will be advised about healthy lifestyle changes to help stop it from growing
• medium AAA (4.5cm to 5.4cm) – ultrasound scans are recommended every 3 months to check if it is getting bigger; you will also be advised about healthy lifestyle changes
• large AAA (5.5cm or more) – surgery to stop it from getting bigger or bursting is usually recommended

Ask your doctor if you are not sure what size your AAA is.

AAAs are mostly asymptomatic and found incidentally. The incidence of AAA is higher in Caucasian men, individuals older than 60 years of age, and smokers. Diagnosis is usually reached using imaging modalities.