THINK OF YOUR AORTA
as the
workhorse of your circulatory
system. It’s your largest artery, car-
rying oxygen-rich blood from your
heart to the rest of your body.
Te walls of your aorta are very
elastic and can stretch and shrink
as needed to handle blood-fow de-
mands. But some health conditions
can weaken your aortic wall, which
can cause it to stretch and bulge
outward, forming what is known as
an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
If the weakened walls of your
aorta burst or rupture, the aneu-
rysm can cause life-threatening
bleeding inside your body, says the
American Medical Association.
Men are more likely than women
to have an abdominal aortic
aneurysm. Other risks include:
➜
➜
Aging.
➜
➜
Hardening and narrowing of the
arteries.
➜
➜
Having a family history of aortic
aneurysms.
➜
➜
Smoking.
➜
➜
Having infections or infammation
that damage the aorta or heart.
➜
➜
Having high blood pressure.
If you have any of these risk fac-
tors, ask your doctor if you should
be screened for an aortic aneurysm.
All men between the ages of 65 and
75 who have ever smoked cigarettes
should defnitely be screened, ac-
cording to the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
Screening is quick and painless.
An ultrasound is used to take a pic-
ture of your abdominal aorta. Te
width of your aorta is then mea-
sured to see if there is a bulge.
Treatment for an aneurysm
depends on its size and location.
It may include:
➜
Watchful wait-
ing.
➜
Surgery.
➜
Medications.
➜
A regular exercise program.
➜
A
heart-healthy diet.
➜
Not smoking.
Should you be screened? Find out now
An ultrasound is used
to take a picture of your
abdominal aorta.
AORTIC ANEURYSM
Heart
Aorta
Kidney
Aneurysm
Artery
narrowed by
plaque
Restricted
blood fow
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Bulge of
weakened
artery wall
Cofey infographic with information from the American
Medical Association and the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute
VASCULAR DISEASE
$60 screening
package can
save your life
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
is
the No. 1 killer of both men and
women, yet most people think this
only involves their hearts.
Vascular disease involves the
entire circulatory system—not just
the heart—and, if not detected, can
cause a stroke.
BMH ofers a complete vascular
screening package for only $60 by
appointment in Beaufort and at
our Blufton facility. Te low-cost
screening includes:
➜
➜
Carotid artery scan.
➜
➜
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
scan.
➜
➜
Ankle-brachial index scan.
If you are over 50 and have any
of the following risk factors, you
should be screened:
➜
➜
High blood pressure.
➜
➜
Diabetes.
➜
➜
High cholesterol.
➜
➜
Obesity.
➜
➜
Smoking.
➜
➜
Family history of vascular
disease.
Call 843-522-5635 to make an appointment,
and let the scheduler know whether you would
like to be screened in Beaufort or in Blufton.
Doctor Referral Service: 888-522-5585 • Health Scene
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