1. < Aortic Aneurysms

Besides managing BP, what else can slow the growth rate?

Posted by bryanfox @bryanfox, Mar 13 4:14pm

I'm a 48yo M, diagnosed in 2019 with an ascending aneurysm at 4.2-4.3. I have been getting regular scans and I thought it was not growing, but today my doctor told me that the last CT scan shows it at about 4.5. My BP is controlled (small dose of olmesartan), I don't smoke, I rarely drink, and I am fairly physically active. I'm 5'10" / 197lbs, so I could lose a bit of weight.

What bothered me was that the doctor basically said, "You're doing what you can, just come back at the end of the year for your next scan", like the growth is inevitable and unavoidable.

So that's my question - what else can I do to slow the growth? I know that sometimes this condition advances rapidly without apparent reason, but that (fortunately) doesn't seem to be the case for me - mine is progressing at around 1mm a year. Nonetheless, it feels like there SHOULD be something else to do to slow things down.

What am I missing?

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beebo | @beebo | Mar 15 12:08am

In addition to keeping your BP under control, I’ve been advised to not do any type of exertion that would equate to lifting 40 lbs or more. But my Doctor’s primary focus has been on BP management.

REPLY
2 replies
dcopeland | @dcopeland | Mar 15 12:39pm
In reply to @beebo "In addition to keeping your BP under control, I’ve been advised to not do any type..." + (show)
@beebo

In addition to keeping your BP under control, I’ve been advised to not do any type of exertion that would equate to lifting 40 lbs or more. But my Doctor’s primary focus has been on BP management.

Jump to this post

What numbers does he mention for the BP managment?

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3 replies
beebo | @beebo | Mar 16 12:21am
In reply to @dcopeland "What numbers does he mention for the BP managment?" + (show)
@dcopeland

What numbers does he mention for the BP managment?

Jump to this post

My doctor has not given me any target #’s to aim for. But that said, my BP has been consistently low since I have been with this doctor, after a very long time of it being way too high- always over 140/80 (and way higher than that in Dr office ). It took a long time to keep experimenting with the meds I take but now I’m always under 120/80.

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houston13 | @houston13 | Mar 16 5:14pm
In reply to @beebo "In addition to keeping your BP under control, I’ve been advised to not do any type..." + (show)
@beebo

In addition to keeping your BP under control, I’ve been advised to not do any type of exertion that would equate to lifting 40 lbs or more. But my Doctor’s primary focus has been on BP management.

Jump to this post

I believe the exertion restriction is also related to BP, BP is the worst enemy of an aneurysm and we tend to hold our breath when lifting heavy weights or exerting while exercising. I had a 5.2 AAA that was fixed with surgery 4 yeasr ago (open heart) but before the operation my Cardiologist explained to me how incredibly BP goes up with heavy exertion (he told me chest presses and crucnches are some of the worst). I was in very good shape and exercised frequently so I had to slow down significantly before the surgery. I recently found videos by Dr Andy Galpin, it is worth while listening to him, he explains the whole relationship between exertion/holding breath and BP and teaches breathing exercises to learn how to properly breathe.

REPLY
2 replies
bryanfox | @bryanfox | Mar 16 9:07pm
In reply to @houston13 "I believe the exertion restriction is also related to BP, BP is the worst enemy of..." + (show)
@houston13

I believe the exertion restriction is also related to BP, BP is the worst enemy of an aneurysm and we tend to hold our breath when lifting heavy weights or exerting while exercising. I had a 5.2 AAA that was fixed with surgery 4 yeasr ago (open heart) but before the operation my Cardiologist explained to me how incredibly BP goes up with heavy exertion (he told me chest presses and crucnches are some of the worst). I was in very good shape and exercised frequently so I had to slow down significantly before the surgery. I recently found videos by Dr Andy Galpin, it is worth while listening to him, he explains the whole relationship between exertion/holding breath and BP and teaches breathing exercises to learn how to properly breathe.

Jump to this post

Wow, that's good to know about the exercise. I have been doing pushups (2-3 sets of 50 a day), but I suppose they aren't much better than pull ups in this regard. I don't feel particularly winded when doing them, but I guess that's not really the only indicator here.
But if that's the case, what can you do for strength training? Are resistance bands safer? Or just really light weights with a lot of reps? I don't feel like rushing towards my open heart surgery, but I also don't feel like "brisk walking" should be my limit at age 48...
And now after the surgery, are you able to exercise somewhat normally again, or is it a lifetime restriction on exertion?

REPLY
2 replies
beebo | @beebo | Mar 16 11:51pm
In reply to @houston13 "I believe the exertion restriction is also related to BP, BP is the worst enemy of..." + (show)
@houston13

I believe the exertion restriction is also related to BP, BP is the worst enemy of an aneurysm and we tend to hold our breath when lifting heavy weights or exerting while exercising. I had a 5.2 AAA that was fixed with surgery 4 yeasr ago (open heart) but before the operation my Cardiologist explained to me how incredibly BP goes up with heavy exertion (he told me chest presses and crucnches are some of the worst). I was in very good shape and exercised frequently so I had to slow down significantly before the surgery. I recently found videos by Dr Andy Galpin, it is worth while listening to him, he explains the whole relationship between exertion/holding breath and BP and teaches breathing exercises to learn how to properly breathe.

Jump to this post

Great info- thanks for sharing!

REPLY
beebo | @beebo | Mar 16 11:59pm
In reply to @bryanfox "Wow, that's good to know about the exercise. I have been doing pushups (2-3 sets of..." + (show)
@bryanfox

Wow, that's good to know about the exercise. I have been doing pushups (2-3 sets of 50 a day), but I suppose they aren't much better than pull ups in this regard. I don't feel particularly winded when doing them, but I guess that's not really the only indicator here.
But if that's the case, what can you do for strength training? Are resistance bands safer? Or just really light weights with a lot of reps? I don't feel like rushing towards my open heart surgery, but I also don't feel like "brisk walking" should be my limit at age 48...
And now after the surgery, are you able to exercise somewhat normally again, or is it a lifetime restriction on exertion?

Jump to this post

Just a thought on this- If you have a home BP device you might try checking your #’s right after completing a workout set. If they go up measurably following those, check with your doc about what type of exercise doesn’t cause that much elevation in the #’s.

REPLY
3 replies
houston13 | @houston13 | Mar 17 12:32am
In reply to @bryanfox "Wow, that's good to know about the exercise. I have been doing pushups (2-3 sets of..." + (show)
@bryanfox

Wow, that's good to know about the exercise. I have been doing pushups (2-3 sets of 50 a day), but I suppose they aren't much better than pull ups in this regard. I don't feel particularly winded when doing them, but I guess that's not really the only indicator here.
But if that's the case, what can you do for strength training? Are resistance bands safer? Or just really light weights with a lot of reps? I don't feel like rushing towards my open heart surgery, but I also don't feel like "brisk walking" should be my limit at age 48...
And now after the surgery, are you able to exercise somewhat normally again, or is it a lifetime restriction on exertion?

Jump to this post

I am exercising regularly and relatively intensely. Biking/Spinning, Strength exercises and yoga. I do not lift extreme weights, but enough to challenge me.

REPLY
houston13 | @houston13 | Mar 17 12:37am
In reply to @beebo "Just a thought on this- If you have a home BP device you might try checking..." + (show)
@beebo

Just a thought on this- If you have a home BP device you might try checking your #’s right after completing a workout set. If they go up measurably following those, check with your doc about what type of exercise doesn’t cause that much elevation in the #’s.

Jump to this post

I am not an expert, but I believe the BP spikes during the exercise/grunting/holding breath, don't know how long the spike lasts but don't believe very long. I am trying to find a video I was watching yesterday where Dr Galpin explains how much (his number would surprise you) and why BP rises, it was of course not related to aneurysms, but in our case is relevant, when I find it I will post the link

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