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Can Coughing Increase Size and Risk of Aortic Anuerysm
I am 67 years old with an ascending aortic aneurysm diagnosed last July at 4.1. I am scheduled for a six month CT angiogram next month to check for any growth – which I’m hoping there is none. However, over the last few weeks I’ve been battling a cold that turned into bronchitis that turned into mild pneumonia. Subsequently, I developed a cough that could be quite jarring at times. Late night googling found many different sources of contradictory information, but one stuck out that said “yes, coughing can be very dangerous for an ascending aortic aneurysm.” it did not specify how it was dangerous.
I have tried to contact my cardiologist twice about this and I must not be asking my question correctly because the nurse calls back with the reply that if I have questions about a cough, see my general practitioner. The GP said she’s not a cardiologist ask my cardiologist. It’s a vicious cycle. The urgent care doctor that prescribed antibiotics for the pneumonia had no idea about a cough correlating to a risk of aneurysm, but said to ask my cardiologist😵💫. Just wondering if anyone else had asked or spoken to their doctors about coughing, and if it causes the aneurysm to expand rapidly? I hope I don’t sound crazy, but I’m just really concerned about everything with this newly diagnosed issue. I want to be as safe as I can, but how do you prevent yourself from coughing when you’re sick. Cough medicine only goes so far. Thanks for any insight.
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@mjm3
Thats awful. I recently have had elder disrespect. You can feel it in your bones when someone just disregards you.
Better not to even make eye contact. Even though thinking about it....it's there problem not ours ( if you are not older it still applies) 🙂
Cough is symptom that helps Dx TAA. I have mild Asthma and I do cough especially when I have an excerbation, like now. Cough drops and nite quil only go so far. If can send an email to your cardiologist do so.
Thank you so much for sharing. My spouse has been diagnosed with an over 4 .5 aneurysm and family GP is quite blaise about it and not doing enough follow-up in my humble opinion. Sends off for the odd CT but does not seem to know much or care for that matter. Your info is very good helpful esp. the surgeon recommendation. Stay well and thanks again!
@mjm3 you know what really helped me because I have blood pressure spikes too, primarily from the anxiety regarding whether the thing was growing, (so I have been my own worst enemy at times). Someone on here told me to breathe in through my nose 4 seconds hold my breath 4 seconds and breathe out through my mouth 4 seconds and start all over again. this activates your parasympathetic nervous system and lowers both your blood pressure and your heart rate (if the spike is indeed a result of anxiety). The spiking blood pressure is much more dangerous than the coughing, but even that probably won’t increase its size. Your aorta is designed to take a lot of pressure and be quite flexible. I felt better after I got my second and then my third CT scan and it hadn’t changed so now it’s been three years at 4.2 or 4.1 depending on who measures it. I did have a blood pressure spike myself and my 3.5 root measured 3.7 on an echo …
I’m hoping that’s just an anomaly of the measuring but I get another CT scan in April.
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2 Reactions@ginnycake
I got very upset one evening and my bp went to 154/153 !
Has anyone ever had a bp that high?
Also have under eyes swelling (in the evening) for the last 2 months. I have anxiety too
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1 ReactionThanks for the advice on thoracic aneurysm issues. My active husband aged 79 has an aneurysm caused by regurgitation of bicuspid valve. It is stable — seems to be —at 4.8. He has seen a specialist and the valve and heart are healthy. Having a sudden cough occur when he lies down is worrying to me. I will pass info on to him.
I Have an aortic arche aneurysm of 6.00 sadly it is inoperable due to other health issues, Recently I’ve had a dreadful cough,as you can imagine I was very scared it was going to dissect. Luckily it didnt,I’m hoping it means my aorta is still reasonably strong, I have had my anuerysm 9 years it started at 5.2 So I think you shouldn’t worry to much.
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2 Reactions@langford41 Have you gotten a second opinion or even a third opinion on the "in-operable"?
@jamiemj Yes and it is an emergency. Eye swelling may either be a BP issue or due to medications. Take your meds to a good pharmacist and ask them to evaluate why you may be getting eye swelling and or BPs that spike. Pharmacists generally enjoy sharing knowledge with patients to figure out mysterious symptoms.
@slarson14 Hello No I havnt asked for a second opinion. The doctor that I saw was a world well known specialist in aortic arche aneurysm operations.He now works in the Mayo Clinic. it is 5 years since I saw him and was told I wouldn’t survive the operation, I just feel if they had operated when the aneurysm was about 5 I might have stood a chance,but now I just feel I’m to old,and with other nasty health issues I will just stay as I am . Thank you for asking.