More than 1 million Americans are living with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Could you be at-risk? An AAA is a blood-filled bulge or ballooning of the abdominal aorta, the artery that carries blood to the lower part of the body. Over time, the bulge – known as an aneurysm – can become weak and burst unexpectedly with fatal consequences. For individuals at-risk for AAA, a simple, painless ultrasound screening is an effective way to detect a potentially life-threatening disease early enough for treatment.
On October 9, the Find the AAAnswers national AAA awareness campaign will offer free ultrasound screenings to Milwaukee-area residents atrisk for the disease. The free screenings will be offered at:
Kmart Pharmacy
6900 West Greenfield Avenue
West Allis, WI 53214
7 am – 4 pm
The risk for AAA increases in individuals that are age 60 and over, in those who have a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or a family history of the disease. At-risk individuals should call 866-371-3592 to register; space is limited.
“More than one million people are living with an undiagnosed AAA, and if that aneurysm bursts only 10-25 percent of people will survive,” said R. Clement Darling III, MD, Chair, Society for Vascular Surgery’s Public and Professional Outreach Committee and a Find the AAAnswers Coalition member. “By hosting this free screening, we hope to increase public awareness about AAA and empower people to ask the right questions about this potentially fatal, but easily treatable condition.”
Screening for AAA is quick and non-invasive, involving a simple ultrasound of the abdomen similar to a pregnancy ultrasound. In less than 15 minutes, the images produced with help a qualified technologist look for swelling along the aorta wall to determine if an AAA is present. If an aneurysm is detected, the ultrasound measures its size, which is a key step in identifying the best treatment option.
To learn more about AAA, visit www.FindtheAAAnswers.org.
