The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. The abdominal aorta is the continuation of the thoracic aorta into the abdomen, and is responsible for supplying blood to this region of the body, as well as lower regions such as the pelvis and legs. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the weakening of the wall of the aorta causes the vessel to balloon over time. A ruptured AAA is a life-threatening event that will require immediate medical attention. Although the rupture itself causes severe pain, three out of every four aneurysms don’t cause any symptoms beforehand, and are often only discovered incidentally while scanning the thorax for other reasons. Because of this, AAA is often called the silent killer.

Risk Factors:
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Age