An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from the heart down through the chest and stomach. An AAA can be dangerous if it is not spotted early on, as it can get bigger over time and can burst (rupture) causing life-threatening bleeding.
Screening for AAA is routinely available by the NHS to all men aged 65 years and over.
AAAs do not usually cause any obvious symptoms, and are often only picked up during screening or tests carried out for other reasons. Women (over 70 years) are also at risk of AAA, but it is more difficult to detect AAA among women, and as a result there is no screening programme in place for women in England.