am I exercising too much with a 4.3 ascending aortic aneurysm?

I have two heart docs one is cardo and the other is surgeon. I 63 4.3-4.5 depending on test. Other than proper breathing when lifting live a normal life. Not saying it is ok to be power lifter but exercise diet and keep BP low. If you must ask doc for statin and b pressure med start low doses. This is the best you can do…..maybe it grows maybe not. My doc told me I may never need surgery.

Thank you

Hi Will3886. I see you got checked because your brother had heart issues? That points towards a possible genetic component to your aneurysm. You need to have that discussion with your cardiologist soon. Some familial TAADs (thoracic aortic aneurysm disease) lead to early dissection. Not all, but some. If you show one of these genetic markers, the algorithm for the timing of repair is altered accordingly. I urge you, with a 4.5, to have this discussion in order to make informed decisions. I to love hiking! I used to run and I get your desire to let loose on those amazing trails! Good luck!!!
UPartist

Thanks for the comments
I will have that discussion asap

I 68 and had an ascending AA diagnosed at 4.2. I still have six months to go, but may do another ct scan to see where I am at.

What I don't understand is why in hell don't they just operate on it and fix it? It has risk, but it is better than this slow torture and not knowing how much you can really do. I hunt chukars, one of the most strenous outdoor sports. Walking up and down steep slopes. But no one can say do it or don't do it. Frustrating!

It's my understanding that insurance doesn't want to cover surgery until you reach 5.0, unless something else is going on. I also asked my cardiologist about getting surgery earlier rather than later. I'm nearly 80 and don't relish having this major surgery when I'm even older. He said I should wait until the benefits outweigh the risks. This is a serious operation. Given what I know now about the long recovery for most patients, especially older ones, I may not have surgery at all. I'm at 4.2 and will have another CT scan in July. Fingers crossed it's still the same. I've never been keen on exercise but I try to walk most days, weather permitting. I've given up on gyms. Those of you who depend on exercise to stay sane and feel healthy--like my son and daughter--always amaze me. I guess it's how some folks feel about opera. You really like that? Anyway, common sense tells me that overdoing the exercise is asking for trouble. Move it or lose it, but don't push so hard you blow a gasket.

Mine was diagnosed at 4.0 almost 4 years ago and then went to 4.2 in a year. Now steady at 4.5 the last year and a half. Based on information from my local cardiologist and also from the head of cardiothorasic surgery at a university hospital who also reviews my scans, surgery is recommended at 5.0 cm (unless they see a rapid increase in readings). They explained to me that surgery is major and high risk, around 5% fatality rate, but depends on the hospital. Not having surgery before 5% the risk is down to well below 1%. They also told me that people who manage it (no heavy lifting, no strenuous exercise, keeping blood pressure low etc) have a low risk and as one of them said "you would go from something else totally unrelated".

Are you talking about the open heart method of repair?