The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen.
In some people, as they get older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak. It can then start to expand and form what is known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The condition is most common in men aged 65 and over. Men are six times more likely to have an aneurysm than women, and the risk of developing an aneurysm increases if you are or have been a smoker, have high blood pressure, or have a close family member who has had one.
If you have an AAA, you will not usually notice any signs or symptoms. This means you cannot tell if you have one, as you will not feel any pain or notice anything different. Large aneurysms are rare but can be very serious. As the wall of the aorta stretches, it becomes weaker and can burst, causing internal bleeding. More than 80% of people die when an aneurysm bursts.
An aorta that is only slightly larger than normal is not necessarily dangerous. However, it is still important to know about it so that it can be monitored to see if it is getting bigger and treated if necessary.
AAA screening
AAA screening is a free NHS national programme that automatically invites men in the year they turn 65 to check whether they have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Screening is by invitation only and involves a quick and painless ultrasound scan to measure the aorta. You will be given your results on the same day, immediately after the scan has been completed.
If you are a man aged 65 or over, you are at greater risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm than any other demographic group, which is why you will be invited for screening. Screening helps us find aneurysms early so that they can be monitored or treated if needed. This greatly reduces the risk of serious complications and aims to reduce deaths from ruptured AAAs by 50%.
Please watch out for your invitation, which will be sent by QE Hospital Gateshead but you will have your scan at a clinic local to where you live.
You can change your appointment to a more suitable one contact your local screening service on: 0191 445 8747
Find out more information on the AAA screening process or here for accessible AAA screening process leaflets, or visit the QE website: http://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk/aaa
