A screening former smokers should get

By Young Erben, M.D.

Dear Mayo Clinic: My 70-year-old father-in-law smoked for more than 30 years. I read that men who used to smoke should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. What does this screening involve? What would be done if he is found to have an aneurysm?

A: Several factors can raise the risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. One of the most significant is tobacco use.

In addition to the direct damaging effects that smoking has on arteries, smoking contributes to the buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries and high blood pressure. Smoking also can cause an aneurysm to grow faster by damaging the wall of the aorta.

Other risk factors include a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, being male, and having atherosclerosis, which is a condition where fat and other substances build up in the lining of your blood vessels. The risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm also goes up with age.

Because of his history of smoking and his age, you are correct that your father-inlaw should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The screening that is recommended typically includes a physical exam and an ultrasound of the abdomen. Other imaging tests may be needed in some cases, too.

If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is found, treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm, its rate of growth, and whether it is causing any symptoms.

The aorta is a large blood vessel about the size of a garden hose that runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. Two types of aortic aneurysms can occur in the wall of the vessel.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta just above the area of your belly button that forms due to weakness in the blood vessel’s wall. A thoracic aneurysm also can occur along the part of the vessel that passes through the chest cavity.

The greatest risk of an aneurysm is that it may rupture. Because it provides the body with much of its blood supply, a rupture in the abdominal aorta can lead to lifethreatening internal bleeding.

Based on the various risk factors, many healthcare organizations, including Mayo Clinic, recommend that men 65 to 75 who are or were smokers get screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Men and women who have a family history of the disease may need to begin screening earlier. Some organizations recommend that screening begin at 55. Currently, the data to screen women with a previous smoking history is inconclusive.

Most abdominal aortic aneurysms can be detected through a physical exam combined with an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound.

Screening is important because in most cases aneurysms grow slowly and do not cause any noticeable signs or symptoms until they rupture.

Though rare, an abdominal aortic aneurysm that has not ruptured may trigger persistent back pain; deep, constant

Peace

abdominal pain; or a pulsating feeling near the belly button.

Symptoms of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm include sudden back pain, abdominal pain or fainting. If your fatherin-law experiences any of these symptoms, it is critical that he receives emergency medical care right away.

If an aneurysm is found on a screening exam, surgery to repair the aneurysm typically is recommended if the aneurysm is 5.5 centimeters in size or larger, if it is growing rapidly, or if it causes pain or shows evidence of forming blood clots.

If an aneurysm is small, slow-growing and not causing any bothersome symptoms, a healthcare professional may recommend monitoring it regularly without immediate treatment.

Although having an abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially serious health condition, the outlook is good when these aneurysms are identified early. Even large aneurysms often can be successfully repaired.

Encourage your father-in-law to schedule an appointment with his primary healthcare provider or a vascular specialist to be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

— Young Erben, M.D., Vascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

© 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Hearing aids

From page 3 labeled sound or hearing amplifiers — called a personal sound amplification product or PSAP. While often marketed to seniors, these are designed to make sounds louder for people with normal hearing in certain environments, like hunting. And amplifiers don’t undergo FDA review.

“People really need to read the descriptions,” said Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America.

And check the return policy. That’s important because people generally need a few weeks to get used to them, and make sure they work in the situations where they need them most. That may include on the phone or in noisy offices or restaurants.

Does the company selling OTC devices offer instructions or an app to assist with

Food tech

From page 3 which technology works best, since startups don’t always share data or formulations with outside researchers.

Some companies find it better to rely on proven technology — but in new ways. Chicago-based Hazel Technologies, which was founded in 2015, sells 1-methylcyclopropene, or 1-MCP, a gas that has been used for decades to delay the ripening process in fruit.

The compound — considered non-toxic by the EPA — is typically pumped into sealed storage rooms to inhibit the production of ethylene, a plant hormone. But Hazel’s real breakthrough is a sachet the size of a sugar packet that can slowly release 1-MCP into a box of produce.

Mike Mazie, the facilities and storage manager at BelleHarvest, a large apple packing facility in Belding, Michigan, or- setup, fit and sound adjustments? A specialist could help too, but expect to pay for that office visit, which is rarely covered by insurance.

Sheffield said hearing aids are not complicated, but wearing them also is not as simple as putting on a pair of reading glasses.

“If you’ve never tried or worn hearing aids, then you might need a little bit of help,” he said.

The cost

Most OTC hearing aids will cost between $500 and $1,500 for a pair, Sheffield said. He noted that some may run up to $3,000.

And it’s not a one-time expense. They may have to be replaced every five years or so.

Hearing specialists say OTC prices could fall further as the market matures. But they already are generally cheaper than their prescription counterparts, which can run more than $5,000.

dered around 3,000 sachets this year. He used them for surplus bins that couldn’t fit into the sealed rooms required for gas.

“If you can get another week out of a bushel of apples, why wouldn’t you?” he said. “It absolutely makes a difference.”

The role of consumers

The science is promising but it’s only part of the solution, said Yvette Cabrera, the director of food waste for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Most food waste happens at the residential level, she said. Lowering portion sizes, buying smaller quantities of food at a time, and improving the accuracy of date labels could have even more impact than technology.

“Overall, as a society, we don’t value food as it should be valued,” Cabrera said.

Martha Irvine contributed from Belding, Michigan.

The bad news is insurance coverage of hearing aids is spotty. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage of devices that need a prescription, but regular Medicare does not.

There are discounts out there, including some offered by Medicare Advantage insurer UnitedHealthcare in partnership with AARP.

VIRTUAL TAI CHI

Shoppers also can pay for the devices with money set aside in health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts.

Don’t try to save money by buying just one hearing aid. People need to have the same level of hearing in both ears so they can figure out where a sound is coming from, according to the American Academy of Audiology. —AP

Join AARP’s Senior Planet for a gentle exercise class to help you maintain strength, flexibility and balance. Virtual Tai Chi takes place every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom at bit.ly/VirtualTaiChiClass. No registration necessary.

Mail Or Email For Free Information

For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete this coupon and mail it — or take a picture and email it — to the Beacon.

Housing Communities

❏ Caritas House Assisted Living (see ad on page B-6)

❏ Catholic Charities (see ads on pages B-6, B-7)

❏ Charlestown/Erickson (see ads on pages B-4, B-8)

❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts (see ad on page B-2)

❏ Everall Gardens (see ad on page B-7)

❏ Harmony at Enterprise (see ads on pages B-3, B-4)

❏ Inspirations Memory Care (see ad on page 7)

❏ Kessler Park (see ad on page B-7)

❏ Oak Crest/Erickson (see ads on pages B-4, B-8)

❏ Park View Laurel (see ad on page 13)

❏ Park View Towson (see ad on page 13)

❏ Park View Fullerton (see ad on page 13)

❏ Park View Rosedale (see ad on page 13)

❏ Pickersgill (see ad on page B-7)

❏ St. Mary’s Roland View Towers (see ad on page 6)

❏ Virginia Towers (see ad on page 4)

❏ Warren Place Senior Apartments (see ad on page 12)

❏ Westminster Canterbury (see ads on pages B-2, B-4)

Clinical Research Studies

❏ Balance/Falls Study (HIPS) (see ad on page 9)

❏ Diabetes Diet Study (DASH 4D) (see ad on page 9)

❏ Knee Osteoarthritis Study (see ad on page 8)

❏ Memory & Sleep Study (REST) (see article and ad on page 9)

Name

Address City State Zip

Phone E-mail

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or take a picture and email to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com. You may also mail this together with the reader reply coupon on page B-5.