Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Prevention plays key role in surviving aneurysm

It can happen in an instant. An aneurysm can burst and the consequences are often fatal.

If you are one of the thousands of people in America who are at risk for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, your chances of survival are minimal. Actors, Lucille Ball and George C. Scott were unfortunate, as both fell victims to this illness.

Despite the tragedy that abdominal aortic aneurysms are typically associated, there is a solution. Detection is a key to avoiding catastrophic medical occurrences. Politician Bob Dole and sports figure Bob Uecker had the advantage of discovering their abdominal aortic aneurysms before it was too late. They had the opportunity to be proactive with their aneurysms, wouldn't you like the same opportunity?

What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?

It is known as a 'silent killer' but there are measures you can take to ensure it doesn't affect the life of a loved one.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms, also known as AAAs, are not the first concern that comes to mind when someone thinks of a life-threatening illness. Yet it is the 10th leading cause of death in men over age 50 and the 13th overall. One of the distinctions that makes AAAs so deadly, is that many go undetected until it is too late, leading to a mortality rate of over 80 percent in the event of a rupture.

In Bob Dole and Bob Uecker's cases, their aneurysms were revealed as an incidental finding during other health examinations. Early detection played a large part in their ability to defeat the odds and share their stories today.

An aneurysm is an abnormal ballooning or enlargement of a blood vessel. When this happens in the abdominal portion of the aorta (the largest blood vessel in the body) it is known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Aneurysms are caused when the lining in the wall of the blood vessel becomes weakened and expands in size. When the aneurysm reaches approximately 5 centimeters in diameter, it is at a higher risk for rupture. Often physicians will consider surgery once the aneurysm reaches this measurement.

Are you at risk?

Men who smoke and are over the age of 50 are at the highest risk of having a AAA. However, women with a family history or other cardiac risk factors are also at risk, as with the death of Lucille Ball. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, tobacco use, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries.)

The key to avoiding an unexpected rupture is to be precautious, including taking part in health screenings on a regular basis. Recently, a study was released from the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, indicating that AAA screenings are a cost-effective preventive measure for men over the age of 60 years.

Life Line Screening offers painless and non-invasive screenings at a low cost, enabling people to take steps in controlling their own medical well-being. All AAA screenings are performed using ultrasound technology, which allows the aorta to be viewed and measured. Through this process, our highly skilled sonographers are able to determine whether the presence of an aneurysm exists.

If an aneurysm is detected through the screening process, the individual is instructed to seek further evaluation from his/her own physician.

Today, it is estimated that over 2.5 million Americans may have AAAs, but it is relatively unknown as to how many are undiagnosed. Since most AAAs develop without warning, three out of four people show no symptoms at the time they are diagnosed.

To help avoid a ruptured AAA, here are some signs to watch for:

Abrupt and severe, constant pain in the abdomen or lower back.

Rapid pulse.

Nausea and vomiting.

Fainting.

Anxiety.

Excessive sweating.

Life Line Screenings are fast, painless and low cost. They involve the use of ultrasound technology, and scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which can lead to a stroke, aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured, and plaque buildup in the arteries in the legs, which are a strong predictor of heart disease. Also offered for men and women, is a bone density screening to assess their risk for osteoporosis.

Over 45 ultrasound teams are on staff to travel to your local community, bringing the screenings to you. These non-invasive, inexpensive and painless, ultrasound tests help people identify their risk for stroke, vascular diseases or osteoporosis early enough for their physician to begin preventive procedures.

Each screening requires ten minutes or less to complete and is individually priced at $60 or less. Save when you sign-up for a complete wellness package of all four screenings, and pay $189 or less.

For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-395-1679. Pre-registration is required.