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Community Corner

Organization Raising Awareness about AAA in Mableton

About 90 people were screened for the disease on Saturday in Mableton

The mere mention of AAA causes people to think about automobile problems. However, in this case, AAA refers to very serious medical condition called Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA).Β 

AAA is a weakening of the aorta, the main artery of your body that comes out of your heart/chest and extends down near your belly button where it terminates.Β 

On Saturday, about 90 people were screened for AAA. Although he did not make an appearance on Saturday, Hall of Fame and former Super Bowl Quarterback Joe Theismann is a national advocate for AAA, and he works to help others get screened for the disease.

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Dr. Eyal Ben-Arie, a vascular surgeon at Piedmont Hospital, was also on hand at Saturday's screening event.

He said, "Any time an artery is more that 50 percent its normal size, it's considered to be an aneurysm. Anueurysms are generally fatal if rupture occurs and nearly 50 percent of aneurysms that rupture at home result in death before the person makes it to the hospital. Subsequently, only 50 percent of those who make it to treatment survive."

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Because there are no visible indicators when someone is experiencing an aneurysm, it's impossible to "self-diagnose," the doctor explained. Someone could still feel fine while having an aneurysm, he continued.

Brooke Bullen helps coordinate events for the AAA Awareness Coalition, which offers free mobile ultrasound screenings to various areas.

Bullen said the organization partnered with in an "effort to heighten awareness regarding AAA and the importance of getting screened if you meet the risk factors."

A typical AAA sufferer is a male, who is 60 or older, is a smoker and has a history of aneurysm in his family's medical history, Bullen said.

A family physician can refer someone possessing the risk factors, and the screening process is non-intrusive, as it is performed via ultrasound.

For more information visit www.findtheAAAnswers.org and look for the AAA mobile heath facility in your area.

Correction: Bullen was originally listed as a member of AAA Answers, however, she is an event coordinator for the organization. The organization is not a mobile clinic as the article previously stated, but offers mobile ultrasound screenings.

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