Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
Why have abdominal aortic aneurysm screening?
If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), you wont usually know. You probably wont feel any pain or notice anything different. Screening is a way of detecting an aneurysm early.
An AAA might be picked up by chance while you are being tested for another problemfor example, if you are given a chest scan because of a persistent cough.
If the abdominal aortic artery gets particularly swollen, you might feel a pulsating feeling or pain in your stomach (abdomen) or back pain.
If you don't experience this, you wont know you have an aneurysm until it bursts, when it becomes an emergency and is usually fatal. More than 8 out of 10 people with a ruptured AAA either die before they reach hospital or dont survive emergency surgery.
However, if an aneurysm is found before it ruptures it can be treated usually by surgery. During this procedure, the swollen section of the aorta is either replaced or strengthened with a section of synthetic tubing.
Because men aged over 65 are particularly at risk of developing an aneurysm, the NHS offers men in this age group screening in order to find aneurysms early, so they can be checked regularly or treated.
The easiest way to find out if you have an aneurysm is to have a screening test, where an ultrasound scan of your abdomen is taken.
The NHS AAA Screening Programme was introduced after research showed it could halve the number of deaths from burst aneurysms among men aged 65 and over.
Who is at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Men are approximately six times more likely to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm than women. The chance of having an aneurysm increases with age.
The risk of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm can also increase if:
- you smoke
- you have high blood pressure
- a brother, a sister or a parent has, or has had, an abdominal aortic aneurysm
The UK research study, which was set up to find out whether a national AAA screening programme would be worthwhile, has now been running for over 10 years, and shows that it will cut the risk of dying from an AAA by 48% in men over the age of 65.
There is no risk from the scan itself.However, if you find out from the scan that you have a large aneurysm, it could lead to difficult decisions about having surgery, which has its own risks.
Being told you have a life-threatening condition can also cause considerable anxiety.
Its important to consider all the information carefully, and you will be sent an information leaflet with your screening letter to help you make this decision.
The NHS AAA Screening Programme has also developed an online decision aid to help you decide whether you want to be screened, and there is also a version you can print out (PDF, 3Mb).
If you decide you dont want to be tested, you can phone your local screening service and ask to be removed from its list of men to invite.
Find out when AAA screening is offered.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 30 Nov 2016
When to seek medical help?
There's usually no need to see your GP if you only get occasional headaches. However, see your GP if you get headaches several times a week or your headaches are severe.
Treatment
Since atherosclerosis involves a long-winded process during which the walls of the arteries change, it required constant care throughout one’s life, in terms of regulating lifestyle. One must make sure that they are consuming a balanced diet, participating in regular physical activity, etc.
How good are mail order supplements for diabetes?
There are no studies that would support or negate these. They are not FDA-regulated supplements, so the contents would be anyone's guess. The only supplement studied, which has shown some improvement for diabetes, is cinnamon and garlic
Are health workers at risk from a novel coronavirus?
Yes, they can be, as health care workers come into contact with patients more often than the general public WHO recommends that health care workers consistently apply appropriate
Advice for prevention of ulcers
To prevent infection by H.pylori, it is important to consume fresh food that has been thoroughly washed, as well as make sure to wash one’s hands with soap and water on a regular basis.
Introduction
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a way of detecting a dangerous swelling of the aorta. It involves an ultrasound scan and is offered to all men aged 65 and over. An AAA usually causes no symptoms, but if it bursts, its extremely dangerous and usually fatal. Around 8 out of 10 people with a ruptured AAA either die before they reach hospital or dont survive surgery.
Why have abdominal aortic aneurysm screening?
If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) you wont usually know, you wont feel any pain or notice anything different, which is why screening is offered. The NHS AAA Screening Programme was introduced after research showed it could halve the number of deaths from burst aneurysms among men aged 65 and over. The risk of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm can also increase if: you smoke; you have high blood pressure; a brother, a sister or a parent has, or has had, an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
When abdominal aortic aneurysm screening is offered
The risk of dying from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is greatest in men aged over 65. This is why the NHS AAA Screening Programme offers screening to men aged 65 and over. Men are six times more likely to have an AAA than women, and the chance of having an aneurysm increases with age. Your risk of developing an AAA increases if you have a close family member brother, sister or parent who has an AAA or died from one.
What happens during screening?
The screening test for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a simple, pain-free ultrasound scan of the abdomen that usually takes about 10 minutes. The technician will put a clear gel on your stomach (abdomen) and then move a small Ultrasound scan over the skin. The ultrasound scan will display a picture of the abdominal aorta on a monitor, and the technician can then measure it's thickness.
Your abdominal aortic aneurysm screening results
Your abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) scan will produce one of four possible results: a normal-sized aorta, a small aneurysm, a medium aneurysm, or a large aneurysm. What happens next depends on the size of your abdominal aorta. You'll also be given advice on how you can prevent the aneurysm from getting bigger, including: stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet, etc. You should be seen by the surgeon within two weeks of your screening appointment. The surgeon will discuss treatment options with you, taking into account your general health and fitness, as well as the size of your AAA.
What are the most FAQs on abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
Frequently asked questions on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. Will I be offered abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening if I live outside England? What is the scientific evidence to support AAA screening? What happens if I am a man over 65 and haven't been screened for an AAA? What about women and men under 65? What are the implications for driving? What permission do I need to give to be screened? etc.
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products