New screening programme urges men to know their size!
Men aged 65 and over will soon be invited to take part in a new screening programme
The Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme will offer men a quick, painless one-off check for a condition that can be life threatening if left undetected.
The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. Sometimes the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak and stretch to form an aneurysm. When this happens there is a risk that the aorta may split or tear (rupture).
An AAA can happen to anyone but is most common in men aged 65 and over who smoke, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a history of AAA in the family
AAA rarely has symptoms and if an aneurysm ruptures, it can cause serious internal bleeding.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of people who suffer a ruptured AAA will die, usually before reaching hospital.
Sixty five year-old men living in Wales and registered with a GP practice will be sent a letter inviting them to attend an appointment for a simple ultrasound scan of the abdominal aorta to check whether an AAA is present.
Men who do not have an AAA will not need to be screened again.
If an AAA is present, it could be small, medium or large. Men with small or medium aneurysms will be invited for further scans to check on the growth of their AAA.
Men found to have a large AAA will be referred to their local hospital to discuss treatment to repair it.
Llywela Wilson, Head of the Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme, said: “We would encourage all men who receive an appointment for AAA screening to take up the offer for this quick, free and very important check of their health.
“Most men with a large AAA will know nothing about it until it ruptures, and their chances of surviving will sadly be very poor.”
More information on AAA screening is available from the programme website at www.aaascreening.wales. nhs.uk
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment