The root causes for many types of aneurysms are high blood pressure (hypertension) and hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of fatty plaque along the arterial walls (atherosclerosis). Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) also run in families, and first-degree relatives of patients diagnosed with an AAA are urged to have a duplex ultrasound examination of their abdominal aorta. 

As with coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease and many other conditions, the goal of a preventive program is to keep blood pressure within a normal range and to reduce the likelihood of plaque buildup and calcification. Specific preventive strategies include: