Tackle the Tough Stuff | Protecting your heart with the NHS

Tonight you have the chance to save a life, and it could be yours. This year’s Tackle the Tough Stuff campaign has highlighted the care support the Rugby League Family offers one another, but to do so you must take care of yourself first.

At tonight’s Wigan v St Helens double-header derby, fans from both sides are encouraged to show up early and attend a free AAA Screening ahead of kick-off. Clinicians from both Liverpool and Manchester NHS will be set up in Robin Park Arena from 4pm, ready to take you through the process.

?‍?? Keep an eye out around the @WiganStadium this evening for NHS staff who will be running safe and simple private AAA screenings for Men over 65.

More information ? https://t.co/yVYbdUXkTE#WWRL #SLWIGSTH pic.twitter.com/yxtpT0KpEh

— Wigan Warriors ??? (@WiganWarriorsRL) July 12, 2024

Earlier this week we sat down with Professor Rob Fisher and Mr Nas Ahmad to talk us through the screening, and they explained:

“The AAA screening programme offers a free ultrasound scan on the tummy to look for a swelling in the main blood vessel.  The scan takes about 10 minutes to perform and results are available straight away. 99% of people do not have an aneurysm, but for the 1% that do, the scan could be a life saver.

"An abdominal aortic aneurysm is usually painless.  It rarely causes any symptoms and so most people don’t know they have one.  The danger with this condition is that over several years it can grow and sometimes burst.  Most people do not survive this event but early detection means it can often be fixed before it causes a problem.

Why is it important for you to make time for testing this evening?

Rob Fisher said: It’s important to take up the free invitation so we find it early and can treat it. The scan could save your life!

The scan is offered to all men aged 65 and over as part of a screening programme. It is free and painless and is usually offered somewhere local. The screening programme is only for men as an aneurysm is far more common in biological men than women.  

What can you expect if you take up this offer?

Well first and foremost, you can expect to receive one of two things; peace of mind, or power to save your life. What you can expect from the free screening itself is simply a scan which involves lying on a bed and having a jelly scan on the tummy which takes about 10 minutes. It’s painless although the jelly can be a bit cold!

Make sure you attend your free screening from 4pm onwards at The Brick Community Stadium and give yourself peace of mind...