(October 17, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Smoking increases women's risk of having an aortic aneurysm, according to research published in the British Medical Journal.

Here are some facts about aortic aneurysms:

.       The term refers to a ballooning in the wall of the aortic artery, the largest artery in the body.

.       If the aneurysm is discovered in time, it can be repaired, often through surgery. If not, it can burst, which is a life threatening emergency.

.       Aortic aneurysms are more common in men, but they are more likely to be deadly in women.

Researchers out of the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis looked at the potential risk factors for either needing to undergo the repair of an aortic aneurysm or having one burst among over 160,000 postmenopausal women over 40 who were participating in the Women's Health Initiative. They followed the women for an average of nearly eight years.

During the study period, 184 aortic aneurysms were reported. Smokers were four times more likely to have an aortic aneurysm than those who had quit and eight times more likely than those who had never smoked. Other risk factors for aortic aneurysms were increasing height, high blood pressure or cholesterol, and coronary and peripheral artery disease. Use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the presence of diabetes were associated with a reduced risk.

Today's research highlights the importance of smoking as a risk factor for aortic aneurysms among women and provides yet another compelling reason to avoid tobacco use.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.