Smokers die four times more often from ruptured aneurysms than nonsmokers. Aneurysms in smokers expand and weaken faster than those in nonsmokers. Abdominal aortic aneurysm may not cause any symptoms for a long period of time. You may feel a pulsation in your abdomen. There may be an occasional mild abdominal ache, back pain, or even groin pain.
Most people have very few complaints related to the aneurysm.
Sudden, very severe abdominal or back pain may suggest rupture of the aorta. When this happens, you need immediate medical attention. Most abdominal aortic aneurysms are found during a routine medical examination of the abdomen. The doctor feels the aneurysm as a mass that pulses with each heartbeat. Once it is discovered, the aneurysm's size must be determined because the risk of aneurysm rupture is related to how large it is.