Heart screening boost

Four in five eligible men invited for a screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm in Lancashire and South Cumbria received the potentially lifesaving test this year, new figures show.

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The British Heart Foundation said the NHS screening programme has been proven to save lives but warned more must be done to improve its take-up in the most deprived parts of the country.

AAAs are a swelling in the aorta, the artery that carries blood from the heart to the abdomen. Most aneurysms do not cause any problems, but they can prove fatal when they burst.

Men who smoke, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol have a higher chance of getting one.