An aortic aneurysm is the dilation, bulging, or ballooning from the wall of the aorta, which is the artery through which blood flows out of the heart to the body. Aneurysms can develop wherever atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, occurs (Dawson, Haubrich, Weitzman, Procedures, Medtronic). An aneurysm can also stem from use of tobacco, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and emphysema, which is an abnormal distention of body tissues caused by retention of air (Haubrich, Weitzman). …
