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Level Physical activity with a 4.3 Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
I was recently diagnosed with a 4.3 TAA. This was discovered during an annual check up with my Cardiologist. I was diagnosed with minor Mitral Valve Regurgitation in 2021. My TAA was found during an Echo and confirmed with a CT scan. Doctor doesn’t seem overly concerned at this point and wants to see me yearly. Prior to finding the TAA is was an avid competitive bike rider and racer. Since the diagnosis I have stopped riding. I assume high heart rates and exertion that come with bike riding could be a problem for me. If I start riding again, is there a target HR is should stay under? Say 140? Or should I just avoid any increased and sustained increase in my HR.
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Get another doctor dear! I recently discovered I have a 4.0 ascending aortic aneurism. Cleveland clinic says to have the surgery now for the best outcome. >5cm is not ok for women. Height, weight, valve problems, inflammation markers, family history, life style& zone you live in are serious factors. < 1% survive a rupture even if you are in an area with specialized surgeons. Consider Cleveland clinic.
@ctflyr
look up this cardiologist siddarth Prakash who researches aortic disease and exercise issues
He talks extensively on John Ritter foundation channel. It helped me get back to working out lifting weights not the max as in past. great tips he gives.
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1 Reaction@kash2025 This was an excellent video.
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2 ReactionsAorta dilation in older endurance athletes is fairly common and occurs at a much higher rate than the general population. There is an emerging debate as to whether this may be a relatively benign adaptation to a lifetime of intense training. Athletes hearts have characteristics that would be considered problematic in non-athletes. eg.they are larger, beat slower , have wider arteries and have higher rates of calcification. Studies have shown that none of the above increase event or mortality risk in athletes. The jury is still out on the aortic dilation issue but there was at least one ongoing study that was to report in 2024 but I have not found the result.
My sister had a Thoracic dissection that eventually became an aneurysm. She had surgery done at Cleveland Clinic & for me as an acute care RN, I have never seen such an amazing hospital. There is no doubt why they were #1 in the nation and #3 in the world.
You need to keep your Blood pressure & heart rate down. They custom made her thoracic sleeve due to aneurysm involving her subclavian as well. Plus they found a calcified AAA and told her she had vegetation at the base of her aorta that needed open heart surgery within a year.
Her cardiologist at Baylor Hospital in Texas (who was a previous Cardiac MD at Stanford) cleared her just before she flew to California for Thanksgiving at my brother's house. She mentioned she felt tired, so she flew back on Friday and said she would see us in 2 weeks as she planned on spending 2 weeks with us at my mom's house for Christmas. She died that Monday night & they called us from her job on Thursday saying last day she worked was Monday. They later found her body. She just turned 59.
So I say to you, do not mess around with your health with a TAA. My sister always worked out and was in great shape externally. But she asked her doctors what she could & could not do. Only once I had to scold get for doing "Hot Yoga" because of the lack of oxygen in a humid room made her dizzy & BP/HR rise.
Get a doctor that specializes in TAA, & try to get yourself to Cleveland Clinic Hospital. They can save your life, they are best of the best.
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