Aneurysm

Last updated: 27 Apr. 2026
Reviewed by: Specialist doctors from the Elfcare quality team

Have you ever heard of someone discovering an aneurysm by chance during a scan? Many people do, because aneurysms often grow quietly for years before showing any signs. While the word may sound alarming, understanding what an aneurysm is and how it forms can help you stay informed and proactive about your vascular health.

An aneurysm occurs when the wall of a blood vessel weakens and bulges outward, like a small balloon. Most stay stable for years, but if pressure builds or the wall weakens further, the bulge can enlarge or rupture. Detecting these changes early makes all the difference.

Book your consultation to test your health

What is an aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a localised enlargement of an artery caused by thinning or weakening of the vessel wall. It can develop in various parts of the body, most commonly in the brain (cerebral aneurysm), aorta (aortic aneurysm), or peripheral arteries like those in the legs.

Over time, constant blood pressure against the weakened wall can cause the artery to bulge. Small aneurysms may never cause trouble, but larger ones can compress nearby structures or, in rare cases, rupture, leading to internal bleeding.

Understanding your risk factors and tracking vascular health through simple tests can help identify early warning signs before complications arise.

Elfcare's full body MRI directly images the three most clinically important aneurysm locations making it one of the most effective tools available for incidental aneurysm detection.

Symptoms of an aneurysm

Many aneurysms cause no symptoms until they become large. When symptoms appear, they depend on the location and size:

Brain (cerebral aneurysm):

  • Sudden, severe headache (“worst headache of life”)

  • Blurred vision or drooping eyelid

  • Nausea, dizziness, or sensitivity to light

  • Seizures or loss of consciousness (if ruptured)

Aorta or peripheral arteries:

  • Pulsating feeling in the abdomen

  • Deep or constant pain in the back or side

  • Pain, coldness, or weakness in one leg

Because aneurysms can remain silent, preventive testing and vascular monitoring are key to staying safe.

Causes of an aneurysm

Aneurysms develop from a mix of structural, metabolic and genetic factors that weaken the artery walls. Common causes include:

  • Chronic hypertension: sustained high pressure is the primary driver of both cerebral and aortic aneurysm development and growth

  • Atherosclerosis: plaque accumulation weakens and stiffens arterial walls, particularly in the aorta

  • Smoking: directly damages vessel wall integrity and accelerates aneurysm growth; the strongest modifiable risk factor for AAA

  • Genetic predisposition: inherited connective tissue weakness (e.g., Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)

  • Family history: first-degree relatives of AAA patients have significantly elevated risk

  • Age and sex: AAA is most common in men over 65; cerebral aneurysms are more common in women over 4

  • Chronic inflammation: vasculitis and other inflammatory conditions can weaken vessel walls

Many of these factors are manageable with awareness and preventive care.

Aneurysms are detected primarily through imaging and supported by blood tests that assess the vascular risk factors driving wall deterioration.

MRI Elfcare's full body MRI covers all three primary aneurysm locations:

  • Brain: MRI imaging of the brain can identify cerebral aneurysms, particularly when MR angiography sequences are included. Unruptured cerebral aneurysms are among the most impactful incidental findings on brain MRI.

  • Thoracic aorta: the thorax MRI directly images the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta, identifying dilatation, wall irregularity, and aneurysmal change.

  • Abdominal aorta: the abdominal MRI directly images the entire abdominal aorta, the most common site for AAA. Size, shape, and wall characteristics are assessed as standard.

MRI can measure aneurysm dimensions accurately, which is clinically important because size is the primary determinant of rupture risk and the threshold for surgical intervention.

Blood tests Blood tests cannot detect aneurysms directly but identify the systemic risk factors driving vascular wall deterioration. Relevant markers in Elfcare's panel include:

  • Total cholesterol, LDL, and Lipoprotein(a): lipid markers driving atherosclerosis and arterial wall damage

  • Homocysteine: elevated levels damage vessel wall integrity and are associated with aortic and cerebral aneurysm risk

  • CRP: systemic inflammation; elevated in active vascular wall inflammation

  • HbA1c and glucose: diabetes contributes to vessel wall damage and accelerated atherosclerosis

  • Creatinine and eGFR: kidney disease is closely linked to hypertension and vascular risk

How is an aneurysm detected?

Why early detection matters

Aneurysms often grow slowly, making early detection your strongest protection. While a rupture is frequently fatal, with over an 80% mortality rate for aortic aneurysms, most can be identified years in advance through regular imaging.

Early identification allows you to:

  • Manage Drivers: Control blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation that erode vessel walls.

  • Elective Care: Discuss monitoring or planned treatments with your doctor, which carry far better outcomes than emergency surgery.

  • Lifestyle Shifts: Reduce smoking and improve diet to support vessel resilience.

Detecting an aneurysm before it reaches a critical threshold transforms a life-threatening risk into a manageable condition.

How Elfcare can help

Elfcare's full body MRI is the most important tool we offer for aneurysm detection. It directly images the brain, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta, the three most clinically significant aneurysm locations, in a single examination.

Our blood panel supports the picture with a comprehensive vascular risk profile — lipids, homocysteine, CRP, HbA1c, and kidney function, identifying the modifiable factors driving vessel wall deterioration.

If our MRI or blood tests identify a suspicious finding, we take care of further diagnostics or refer you to the appropriate specialist.

Book a consultation to learn more
Book a consultation to learn more

Summary

Aneurysms are essentially "silent" weaknesses in vessel walls. Because they are often asymptomatic, they can go unnoticed for years while under constant pressure. High-resolution MRI is the most effective way to directly visualize these bulges before they pose an immediate threat.

The path to prevention is early awareness, vascular support and strategic care. Through regular imaging and lifestyle adjustments, like blood pressure management and smoking cessation, you can reinforce your arterial strength.

Understanding your vascular health allows you to make informed choices that protect your stability and long-term vitality. By identifying these structural vulnerabilities early, you turn a potential emergency into a manageable health plan.

Last updated: 27 Apr. 2026
Reviewed by: Specialist doctors from the quality team at Elfcare

FAQ

  • An aneurysm is a localised bulge in an artery wall caused by structural weakening. The most common and clinically significant types are cerebral aneurysms (in the brain), abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), and thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA). Most are asymptomatic until large or ruptured, making incidental detection through imaging the most reliable way to find them early.

  • Most aneurysms cause no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they depend on location: cerebral aneurysms may cause headache, visual changes, or eye drooping; aortic aneurysms may cause a pulsating abdominal sensation or back pain. A sudden severe headache or tearing chest/back pain may indicate rupture — a medical emergency requiring immediate care.

  • A combination of chronic hypertension, atherosclerosis, smoking, genetic connective tissue disorders, family history, and ageing. Smoking is the strongest modifiable risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Genetic conditions such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome strongly predispose to thoracic aortic aneurysm.

  • Through imaging (MRI, CT angiography, or ultrasound) which directly measures vessel dimensions. Blood tests identify vascular risk factors but cannot detect aneurysms directly. Size is the primary determinant of rupture risk and guides decisions about monitoring versus intervention.

  • Yes. Elfcare's full body MRI directly images the brain, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta, the three primary aneurysm locations, and can identify aneurysmal dilatation as an incidental finding. Our blood panel covers the key vascular risk factors. If a suspicious finding is made, we take care of further diagnostics or refer you to the appropriate specialist.

  • Yes. Small aneurysms are typically monitored with regular imaging and risk factor management — blood pressure control, smoking cessation, and lipid management. Larger aneurysms that exceed size thresholds for rupture risk are treated electively with surgery or endovascular repair (EVAR for AAA, coiling or clipping for cerebral aneurysms). Elective treatment carries far lower risk than emergency surgery after rupture.