MORE men will now have access to a test for a "hidden killer" that affects one in 20 Scottish males.

Starting next month, men aged 65 in the NHS Lanarkshire area will be invited for an ultrasound scan that can detect abdominal aortic aneurysms – a condition that can affect the main artery in the abdomen.

The screening programme, already under way in Glasgow, is being extended to other boards across Scotland.

Clinics will be held at Hairmyres (East Kilbride), Monklands (Airdrie) and Wishaw hospitals, from next month and later in health centres.

About 95% of men will have a normal scan and will exit the screening programme. The risk of a normal aorta developing an aneurysm is extremely rare.

If a small or medium aneurysm is found, regular scans will be offered to monitor its size.

Every man found to have a large aneurysm will be fast tracked to vascular services and assessed for treatment.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm forms when the aorta, the main artery that supplies blood to the body from the heart down through the chest and abdomen, becomes weak and balloons out.

Aneurysms may not cause any pain until they rupture.

George Casey, from Uddingston, was told he had an aortic aneurysm after having tests for other health problems.

He said: "If I had not had my other health problems, they would not have found the aneurysm.

"It was 5.8cm (2¼in) and was a ticking time bomb. It could have killed me."

Brian O'Suilleabhain, consultant in public health for NHS Lanarkshire, said: "This is a simple scan that can help save lives.

"The ultrasound scan is the same method used for looking at babies in pregnant women.

"An ultrasound scan is a simple, painless test taking 10 minutes to detect an aneurysm. The results are available instantly after the scan.

"We will be writing to men aged 65 to invite them for an scan.

"Younger men are not considered to be at risk of an aneurysm so they are not included in this national screening programme.

"This simple test means we can identify an aneurysm at an early stage and monitor or treat it if that is necessary."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk