11 Tips To Help Reduce Your Risk Of An Aneurysm | Everyday Health

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Here's what to know about aneurysms, including the different types, signs and symptoms, and treatment options. Find out from experts if you're at higher risk due to your ethnicity or an underlying health condition.

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• 1What Is an Aneurysm? 
• 2Aneurysm Symptoms and Diagnosis
• 3Aneurysm Causes and Risk Factors
• 4What’s the Best Treatment for an Aneurysm?
• 511 Tips to Help Reduce Your Aneurysm Risk
• 6What Are the Types of Aneurysms?

SEE MORE11 Tips to Help Reduce Your Aneurysm Risk

If you are wondering how to prevent an aneurysm, these lifestyle changes could be helpful.

Everyday HealthByJulie RevelantUpdated on July 2, 2025Medically Reviewed byMichael R. Yochelson, MD, MBAAn aneurysm happens when arteries or blood vessels in the chest, brain, or abdomen lose strength and begin to expand. You can live with an aneurysm without knowing it, and 1 in every 50 people in the United States. may have a brain aneurysm currently.

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 But when an aneurysm ruptures, it is a serious medical emergency.

How do you avoid an aneurysm? You can’t avoid all of the risk factors. But a few lifestyle adjustments may go a long way toward preventing an aneurysm.

1. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Diets high in calories and saturated and trans fats can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis (fatty deposits that clog arteries), and obesity, all risk factors for aneurysms.

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If you’re looking to lower your blood pressure, consider the DASH diet, which the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends for boosting heart health.

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DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, and the approach can also help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and obesity. The diet includes:

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Whole grains
• Fat-free or low-fat dairy products
• Fish
• Poultry
• Beans
• Nuts
• Vegetable oils
• Limited sodium (between 1,500 and 2,300 milligrams a day)

Although there is limited research on the direct effect of dietary choices on aneurysm risk, some studies have pointed to fruit, vegetables, and nuts as helping reduce risk, while eating red meat may increase that risk.

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2. Lower Your Blood Pressure

Nearly half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for an aneurysm.

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You can monitor your blood pressure at home and make lifestyle changes to manage or lower it. These include:

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• Eating a healthy, low-sodium diet
• Exercising regularly
• Quitting smoking
• Managing stress
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Getting enough sleep each night

Make sure you take any medication for high blood pressure as prescribed, work with your doctor to overcome barriers to healthy living, and find out about community programs that may help.

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3. Stop Smoking

If you smoke cigarettes, quitting is one of the most important things you can do to control your risk of an aneurysm.

A landmark study published in 1999 showed that men ages 50 and older who smoked were 9 times more likely to have an aneurysm than those who did not.

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 More recently, research shows that women ages 30 to 60 who smoke have 6 times the risk of having an aneurysm than those who do not.

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To help you kick the habit, consider using over-the-counter stop-smoking products, such as nicotine gum, patches, and lozenges, or ask your doctor to recommend a prescription medication and smoking cessation program.

Secondhand smoke also can damage your blood vessels. Avoid places where secondhand smoke is allowed and ask family and friends not to smoke in your home or car.

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4. Keep Your Cholesterol in Check

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body needs to build cells. But when your cholesterol level is greater than 240 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), it is considered high and can lead to complications. At least 10 percent of people in the United States ages 20 or older have high cholesterol.

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Cholesterol levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL are considered borderline high. Depending on your other risk factors, your doctor may recommend that your cholesterol be treated if it falls in this range, too.

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There is also a correlation between cholesterol levels and aneurysm risk. High cholesterol may increase the risk for some aneurysms for adults ages 60 and older. In addition, not having enough HDL, or “good,” cholesterol can raise your risk, too.

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Fortunately, you can modify your diet to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. To lower bad cholesterol, limit saturated and trans fats.

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 To help promote good cholesterol, eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

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If your doctor has prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication, take it as prescribed while making lifestyle changes. Research has shown that lipid-lowering medication known as statins may shrink aneurysms, slow their growth, and prevent rupturing.

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5. Get Enough Exercise

A regular exercise program can address aneurysm risk factors by lowering your blood pressure and triglycerides, raising good cholesterol, and helping you lose weight.

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Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, or 30 minutes over five days, each week. This also could be 75 minutes of vigorous activity, such as running, in addition to muscle-strengthening activities.

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Moderate exercise also may be okay if you have an aneurysm. Chances are your doctor will recommend avoiding vigorous exercise and strenuous activity, so ask about a low-impact program or exercise guidelines. Lifting weights, having sex, playing golf and tennis, and gardening may be acceptable.

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A larger aneurysm, however, poses a greater risk of rupturing during exercise.

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6. Take Steps to Reduce and Manage Stress

Ongoing stress and getting upset or angry can cause an aneurysm to rupture.

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 Anxiety and stress can also contribute to high blood pressure and heart issues, which are aneurysm risk factors.

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There are several ways to reduce stress. Some include:

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• Exercise
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Getting enough sleep
• Time management
• Deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation
• Relaxation
• Time with family and friends
• Taking up a hobby
• Practicing gratitude
• Journaling

7. Treat Sleep Apnea

If you snore or wake up tired after sleeping all night, you might have obstructive sleep apnea. Although 30 million people in the United States may have sleep apnea, 80 percent of cases are undiagnosed.

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Studies have shown that uncontrolled sleep apnea could place you at higher risk for aneurysm growth and rupturing.

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A doctor who suspects you have sleep apnea may order a sleep study for you, which can take place in a sleep lab or at home. Ways to address sleep apnea include:

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• Losing weight
• Using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine
• Oral appliances
• Implantable devices
• Nerve stimulation

  [31]

• Surgery, in some cases

8. Avoid Drugs

Recreational drugs should be avoided because they often damage blood vessels.

Cocaine, in particular, may lead to the formation and rupture of aneurysms.

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Research also has shown that adults who have used marijuana in the past 3 to 30 days may have double the risk of a stroke called an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) after a ruptured brain aneurysm.

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9. Talk to Your Doctor About a Screening

Aneurysms can run in the family. Your risk of having an aneurysm may increase if you have two or more parents, siblings, or children who have had an aneurysm.

If you have a personal or family history of aneurysms, let your doctor know and report any symptoms immediately.

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There is also an association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and aortic abdominal aneurysms. If you have COPD, your doctor may recommend you have regular computerized tomography (CT) scans.

10. Know the Signs of an Aneurysm

Although aneurysms can occur without warning, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm. These include:

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• Severe headache
• Seizure
• Loss of consciousness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Light sensitivity
• Double or blurred vision

If you suspect you have a ruptured aneurysm, seek medical help immediately.

11. Stick With Your Treatment Plan

If you have been diagnosed with an aneurysm or suffered a rupture or dissection, it’s important to stay up to date on important screenings, take all medication as prescribed, and work with your doctor to lower your risk factors to avoid a recurrence.

The Takeaway

• Aneurysms don’t always have symptoms, but a ruptured aneurysm is a medical emergency.
• Having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart issues may increase your aneurysm risks, and they are worth addressing on their own.
• Stopping smoking and discontinuing use of recreational drugs can greatly reduce your aneurysm risk.
• If you have sleep apnea, ensuring that it is treated also can help prevent aneurysm complications.
• If you have a family history of aneurysms, your doctor may screen you for risks.

Resources We Trust

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• Cleveland Clinic: Aneurysm
• American Heart Association: What Is an Aneurysm?
• Brain Aneurysm Foundation: Ruptured Aneurysm Symptoms
• Harvard Health Publishing: Smokers May Have Higher Risk of Brain Aneurysm
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Aortic Aneurysm — Risk Factors

Additional reporting by Tony Stasiek.

EDITORIAL SOURCESEveryday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.SourcesResources

1. Brain Aneurysm Statistics and Facts. Brain Aneurysm Foundation.
2. Heart Disease Risk Factors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 2, 2024.
3. Trans fat is double trouble for heart health. Mayo Clinic. February 1, 2025.
4. Aortic Aneurysm - Risk Factors - Risk Factors. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
5. DASH Eating Plan. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. January 10, 2025.
6. Yin L et al. Dietary therapy in abdominal aortic aneurysm — Insights from clinical and experimental studies. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. September 21, 2022.
7. High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 28, 2025.
8. 10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication. Mayo Clinic. July 23, 2024.
9. How to Manage High Blood Pressure. American Heart Association. May 21, 2024.
10. Wilmink TB et al. The association between cigarette smoking and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Journal of Vascular Surgery. December 1999.
11. Ogilvy CS et al. Cigarette smoking and risk of intracranial aneurysms in middle-aged women. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. September 2020.
12. Health Problems Caused by Secondhand Smoke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 31, 2025.
13. High Cholesterol Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 24, 2024.
14. Lipid Panel. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
15. Chen L et al. Association between Lipid Levels and Risk for Different Types of Aneurysms: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Journal of Personalized Medicine. November 10, 2021.
16. Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia). American Heart Association. February 19, 2024.
17. Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. American Heart Association. August 23, 2024.
18. Pramana KAAP et al. The effects of statin therapy on aneurysm size, growth rate, and matrix metalloproteinases-9 levels in patients with aortic aneurysm: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Egypt Heart J. October 13, 2023.
19. Hosseini A et al. Effect of statins on abdominal aortic aneurysm. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. November 1, 2022.
20. Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity. Mayo Clinic. August 26, 2023.
21. Adult Activity: An Overview. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 30, 2023.
22. Can I Drive, Exercise or Have Sex if I Have an Aneurysm? Cleveland Clinic. March 18, 2019.
23. Ehrman JK et al. Aortic Aneurysm: DIAGNOSIS, MANAGEMENT, EXERCISE TESTING, AND TRAINING. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention. July 2020.
24. Brain Aneurysm. Cleveland Clinic. February 10, 2023.
25. Fontes MA et al. Neurogenic Background for Emotional Stress-Associated Hypertension. Current Hypertension Reports. April 14, 2023.
26. Tips and Strategies to Manage Anxiety and Stress. Anxiety & Depression Association of American.
27. Stress Relievers: Tips to Tame Stress. Mayo Clinic. August 3, 2023.
28. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) National Indicator Report. American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
29. Bir SC et al. Coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea worsens the overall outcome of intracranial aneurysm: a pioneer study. Journal of Neurosurgery. March 24, 2017.
30. Sleep Apnea. Mayo Clinic. April 6, 2023.
31. Heiser C et al. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation versus positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung. May 2023.
32. Florez-Perdomo WA et al. Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Cocaine Consumption: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis. World Neurosurgery. April 2024.
33. Catapano JS et al. Cannabis Use and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Stroke. January 5, 2022.
34. Brain Aneurysm. Mayo Clinic. April 26, 2025.

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