An aortic aneurysm occurs when the main blood vessel from the heart becomes very large and balloons out from the buildup of plaque or arthrosclerosis. If the walls of the artery tear or dissect, it can be deadly in a very short time. Although the exact cause of an aortic aneurysm is unknown, we do know that it often occurs in men over age 60, especially men who smoke and have high blood pressure. …