Am I at a big risk for having an Aortic Aneurysm?

I understand that aortic aneurysms can run in families. If I were you, I would ask a doctor about a test to determine whether or not you have one. If your mother and your aunt still have theirs, they are probably small enough to watch rather than surgical repair. It’s a watch and wait situation but a borderline MRA or whatever the doctor recommends would at least let you know whether or not you need to watch and wait.

If you don't smoke, don't drink much, are within normal weight guidelines and have blood pressure within normal range, you are probably OK. However, I think you are sufficiently concerned about this that you will feel better if you talk to your MD. An echocardiogram (no radiation) will tell your MD if there is anything going on. And if nothing, maybe another one in 10 years, just to assure you that you are not following in a genetic footprint. If your primary MD dismisses your concern, see a cardiologist for a discussion.

My son who is now 38 years old has an aortic aneurysm as do I. He was diagnosed a few years ago and is now monitored every year with a ct scan with contrast. If I were you I would contact a cardiologist just to get a baseline and see if you even have the aneurysm.

I have had a small acending aortic aneurysm ..it was first found during a chest x-ray.. It has been monitored each year since with a CT scan right before a cardiologist appointment...about 20 years.. it's very stable..and that is good.. take your high blood pressure medication faithfully.. keep your diet healthy..

I would advise you to have a few simple tests to determine if you have it. If so their are things you can do to take care of yourself.

This isn’t right. He very well could have a genetic mutation and that has nothing to do with those factors . I suggest you contact a geneticist in your area and ask for a test. It’s a genetic test that tells you if you have any of the gene mutations that cause dissections and aneurysms. It is very simple and it consists of spitting in a tube and you get results within 6 weeks. My son and I both have the ACTA2 gene. I had my dissection at age 27- I was in perfect health. I had perfect blood pressure, had never smoked, low cholesterol and ideal weight. I was a runner. My type 111 dissection included my ascending, descending, carotid , celiac, arch and femoral arteries. The surgeon told me it looked like a bomb went off on my chest. My son was 15 when he had exactly the same dissections. He was also in ideal health. Now that we are survivors we know it’s important to take care of ourselves with proper diet, mild exercise(no weights over 10lbs,walking, swimming are all ideal for us. But our issues were caused by genetic variances, not any lifestyle we were leading. It is a common misconception that aneurysm and dissections are caused only by smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and age. With genetic mutations it’s just dumb luck that leads us to open heart surgery.

I would agree that you need to have an echocardiogram along with the genetic test I suggest in my comment below.

How do I get the ACTA2 test. I have an aneurysm but want to know if it’s genetic, and if my daughters should be concerned.