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am I exercising too much with a 4.3 ascending aortic aneurysm?
I am a 60 year old female, who has been very active her whole life. I was a very competitive gymnast, then moved to triathlons, then to cycling and running, strength training has always supported these activities. I am a certified personal trainer, and the aneurysm is a new diagnosis as of Dec of 2022. it was shocking - I now have a heart condition. I ran a marathon 2 weeks after I turned 60. My Cradic surgeon has stated that I can train for a 50k (31 miles) race, as well as a 150 mile bike ride. I have a 50 lb lifting weight limit. My BP is low and I am on no medications. My questions are .. is the activity too much? I run 5-6 days a week plus strength training and biking. I have mild chest pain - all of this has been told to my doc. they keep telling me everything is ok - I am just so nervous about all of this - but want to keep doing what I love. Any input will be appreciated.
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My aortic dilation is 4.0 cm. I exercise a lot hiking and climbing mountains. Often my heart rate gets into the 140s-150s. I never know though if that bad or not. My doc told me no restrictions on exercise. Thanks for posting this thread.
@azguy1
I remember feeling the same confusion when I first heard the words “aortic dissection.” Mine was already tearing by the time anyone realized what was happening, and in 2015 I ended up on an operating table for emergency open-heart surgery and a Dacron graft. Because of that, I pay very close attention now to what the numbers actually mean and what the body is trying to tell us.
A dilation of 4.0 cm is something to respect, but it’s not something that should steal the joy from your life. The fact that your doctor has cleared you without restrictions is reassuring. What I learned after my own dissection is that it isn’t the activity itself that’s the danger — it’s how we do it. The aorta hates sudden spikes in pressure. It hates breath-holding. It hates that heavy Valsalva strain we slip into without thinking. You can climb mountains, hike hard, and let your heart rate rise, but the key is keeping every movement smooth and every breath open. When the breathing stays loose, the pressure stays steady, and the aorta stays happier.
I still exercise every day, but I do it with attention instead of fear. If you feel good, if you’re breathing easily, and if your doctor has given you the green light, you’re doing the right things. Knowing your measurement and paying attention to the mechanics of how you move is what keeps you safe. That knowledge is power — and it’s power I wish I’d had before my dissection.
You’re not alone in this. Keep moving, keep breathing, and keep respecting that aorta without letting it run your life. Peace.
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11 ReactionsI absolutely agree with kmailloux. When found my aneurysm was a 4. I was told when it reached 5 we would discuss options. I ended up with an emergency dissection at 4.5 cm. Emergency everything just like kmailloux said. Be mindful, don't lift anything that causes you to grunt, moan, groan, hold your breath, or strain. ASK FOR HELP! I am a 71 YO female and this happened to me at 68. I am going in for another surgery for correction in February. I had no symptoms then and have none now.
Best wishes