Smoking does increase the risk factor for aneurysms. I hope he can sum up the courage to quit smoking again, I know it easier said than done. You are in my thoughts, this has to be difficult for you. Please know we are here for you. Here is a link for smoking cessation: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/basics/quitsmoking-basics/hlv-20049487

Hi @abissol41. I sent your question to Dr. Freeman and this is his response:

"This is a great question. He needs to quit smoking to reduce his risk of future aneurysms and there is not a good number we can cite for his particular aneurysm future risk without knowing if he has any residual risk factors as studied. Also, smoking turns on genes we now know that change the risk. Therefore, he needs to seek a smoking cessation program. There are now teams at Mayo Clinic in smoking cessation with medications, acupuncture, counseling etc that can help him. Mayo has an integrated smoking cessation program. Besides brain aneurysm, smoking cessation can help his other health including reducing the future risk of lung cancer, lung disease (e.g., COPD, emphysema), and cardiac disease like heart attack and ischemic stroke. Not to mention, quitting smoking can help him save money given the high price of cigarettes! Therefore, we as doctors cannot underscore that message enough since it sounds like he has already had brain aneurysms successfully and could prevent future problems from something so simple and effective. In the words of Benjamin Franklin “An ounce of prevention is worth a POUND of cure.” Smoking and aneurysms increases his risk of future aneurysm rupture or future aneurysm development (unruptured by 1.7-2X) the normal patient." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10478344