Causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Aneurysms can develop anywhere along the aorta. Most aortic aneurysms occur in the part of the aorta that's in the belly area, called the abdomen. Several things can lead to the development of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, including: Hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when fat and other substances build up on the lining of a blood vessel. High blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage and weaken the aorta's walls. Blood vessel diseases. These are diseases that cause blood vessels to become inflamed. Infection in the aorta. Rarely, infection by certain bacteria or fungi might cause an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Trauma. For example, being injured in a car accident can cause an abdominal aortic aneurysm.