MEN’S HEALTH WEEK – AAA SCREENING

Are you a man aged 65 or older? A 10-minute scan could save your life!

Men’s Health Week (9th – 16th June) is all about raising awareness of men’s physical and mental health, and we want to talk about a condition that many men may not be aware of.

As you get older, the walls of the abdominal aorta – the main blood vessel that runs from your heart down to your stomach – can weaken and swell up. This swelling is called an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), and is 6 times more likely to occur in men than women. If an AAA gets too big it can burst, which is dangerous and life-threatening. There are no symptoms, and the best way to find one is to be screened.

When you turn 65, the NHS automatically invites you to be screened for an AAA. This is a 10-minute ultrasound scan, which can help catch an AAA early so it can be monitored and treated. It happens at a local clinic, and is easy, quick, and pain free!

If you are over 65 and have never been screened, you can book an appointment by calling the Lancashire and South Cumbria screening team on 0191 445 8747. Watch this short video which shows you what an AAA is: https://fb.watch/7tORZvND2n/ and visit www.gatehseadhealth.nhs.uk/services/aaa for more information on screening and what happens if an AAA is found.

Happy Men’s Health Week to all!