I agree completely re: sugar elimination. I had a complete emergency dissection in 2015 at 50 years old. Uncontrolled hypertension, too much work, obesity, and stress as a trial lawyer. Eliminate all sugar except for reasonable amounts of fresh fruit like grapes and apples. Eliminate the stress. Get good sleep. Follow your thoracic surgeon/cardiologist's advice. REDUCE your blood pressure. You aorta is no different than a car's heater hose: too much pressure and it will split. Once it does, there is usually not enough time to get in there and fix it before it's too late. A complete aortic dissection is a real personal and professional disaster. I know. If you like sugar, look at the comatose picture of me below. I really liked sugar too. Not so much anymore. All the ice cream in the world doesn't make up for what I put my family through.