My family has a strong history of ascending aortal aneurysms. My mother died suddenly from hers, which was completely unknown, at the age of 75. She had not been to a doctor in many years since, in her words, "Doctors are for sick people." Several years later, one of her brothers in his 80's died from the same aneurysm. My brother who has just turned 80 has had 3 of these aneurysms over the course of his life, including successful surgery for 2 of them. They are carefully monitoring the current aneurysm which is now at a size 5.3. Six months ago, I was diagnosed with the same aneurysm. Mine is a size 3.4, and the heart doctor I'm seeing is not concerned. However, I am to see him every six months to monitor any change in size. I am 79 years old. Neither of us have ever had high blood pressure and neither of us have ever been significantly overweight or smoked. While we understand that the condition is genetic, we still want to do everything possible to keep ourselves safe from it. Any advice or insight you can give me would be appreciated. Also, my mother's family has genetic muscular dystrophy (2 of her 4 brothers and one of her sister's sons). I'm pretty scared, although I am a highly educated person who doesn't frighten easily. Karen