Most abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are asymptomatic (meaning you won t have symptoms), not detectable on physical examination, and silent until discovered during radiologic testing (usually an abdominal cat scan) for other reasons. Tobacco use, hypertension, a family history of AAA, and male sex are clinical risk factors for the development of an aneurysm. You can prevent getting one by controlling these risk factors- # Tobacco use. Tobacco use is a strong risk factor for the development of an aortic aneurysm. The longer you ve smoked or chewed tobacco, the greater your risk. # High blood pressure. Increased blood pressure damages the blood vessels in the body, raising your chances of developing an aneurysm. # Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, the buildup of fat and other substances that can damage the lining of a blood vessel, increases your risk of an aneurysm. See your doctor and tell him about your family history. He may choose to do a cat scan just to catch one early, especially if you are at risk. This is preventable if you choose to do something about it.