What causes a thoracic aortic aneurysm?
What causes a thoracic aortic aneurysm?
Thoracic aortic aneurysms are most often caused by atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries that damages the artery's walls. While your arteries are normally smooth on the inside, as you age they can develop atherosclerosis. When atherosclerosis occurs, a sticky substance called atheromatous plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. Over time, excess plaque causes the aorta to stiffen and weaken.Your risk for atherosclerosis increases if you:
- Are a smoker
- Have high blood pressure
- Have high cholesterol
- Are overweight
- Have a family history of cardiovascular or peripheral vascular disease (a narrowing of the blood vessels)
Certain diseases can also weaken the layers of the aortic wall and increase the risk of thoracic aortic aneurysms, including:
- Marfan syndrome (a genetic connective tissue disorder), Loeys–Dietz and other familial connective tissue disorders
- Other non-specific connective tissue disorders (characterized by a family history of aneurysms)
- Presence of a bicuspid aortic valve
- Infections
- Inflammatory disease
Rarely, trauma, such as a severe fall or car accident can cause a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
As you age, your risk of developing a thoracic aortic aneurysm increases. More men than women are diagnosed with thoracic aortic aneurysms, and are often affected with the condition at a younger age.
Recent research indicates that a substantial amount of aneurysms have familial patterns, or are inherited from previous generations. It is important to tell your physician if there is a history of aortic aneurysms in your family to ensure that the best preventative screenings are completed.