ken82, Reading your response was just what I needed to read. I was recently diagnosed with TAA (4.3) in October and since adding Amlodipine Besylate (calcium channel blocker) to my statin pill I feel much better. I am not having any issues nor noticed any "hiccups" from my heart murmur. I am under surveillance by the Cardiac Thoracic Surgery Team but I do not need another CT scan for two years. Reading your exercise of walking your property and doing maintenance sounds about right to me. I have been nervous and of course, allowed my imagination to run away from me. My husband takes care of all the heavy lifting as he has for years. I am 71 and feeling well. Your words pushed me to return to walking...thank you.