What Causes Aortic Aneurysm?
An aneurysm develops when the walls of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, become weakened due to age, atherosclerosis or high blood pressure, and a section begins to bulge outward. A thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is in the stretch of aorta that passes through the chest; an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs below the waist. If the aorta continues to weaken, the aneurysm will grow.
