Are You a Candidate for AAA Screening? By Joe Kim, M.D., HealthAtoZ writer
What is a "triple A"? When you hear of "triple A," what do you think of? Most people may think of automobile insurance or roadside assistance. In the medical community, AAA stands for abdominal aortic aneurysm. This occurs when a part of your major blood vessel (your aorta) balloons out and becomes enlarged. When this happens, your aorta can burst, causing massive bleeding and death. What is health screening? Health screening involves tests that diagnose diseases in their earliest stages so they can be treated. For example, mammograms are used to look for early signs of breast cancer in women who may have no symptoms. In the same way, certain people can be screened for AAA so that they can be treated properly. Who should be screened for AAA? According to the USPSTF, those who should be screened include men ages 65 to 75 who smoke or have smoked in the past. These men should have ultrasounds to check their aortas. The USPSTF makes no recommendations for or against screening men aged 65 to 75 who have never smoked regarding AAA screening and recommends against routine screening for women. The Society for Vascular Surgery recommends ultrasound screenings for people 55 years of age or older with cardiovascular risk factors such as a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, high cholesterol, or known cardiovascular. So, who's right? There's no right answer. In the medical community, several groups may often make health screening recommendations, and there may be some minor differences between various guidelines. Should I get screened? Talk to your doctor about your risks for AAA and whether you should be screened. If you're a smoker, quitting is the best thing you can do to lower your risks for AAA. Sources: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) The Society for Vascular Surgery
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
| 
