WEIGHT LIFTING WITH ASCENDING AORTIC ANEURYSM

Hello Tamba, (@ttandanpolie) and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are fellow patients and caregivers, not medical professionals, so we do not give medical advice. These are questions for your doctor, and should be asked before you undertake either activity. Their answers will be based not just on your aneurysm diagnosis, but on your total health & risk picture.

Have you been doing these activities for the past 4 years since your diagnosis, or are you thinking about starting a new fitness regimen?
Sue

I have been doing these exercises for more than a decade. My cardiologist had told me not to lift anything more that 50 pounds but to be on the safe side I cut down my weightlifting to 40 pounds max and I have been doing that for the past 4 years. I have not had any issues or symptoms, but I just wanted to see if other people with similar problems have different advice from their cardiologists.
My cardiologist is currently on vacation, but I recently read an article that said hot tubs are not safe for people with aortic aneurysms. I have been using my hot tub for years now until last Wednesday when I read that article and since then I have not used it. I don't know if anyone else in this group uses a hot tub
Thanks,
Tamba

My cardio limits my weights to 25 lbs. My aneurysm was diagnosed 15 years ago at 3.8 and is now 4.3. I'm 77. I don't use a hot tub and have not had any advice about hot tub usage from my doc. BTW, I recently had two stents put in place and while in the hospital, a vascular surgeon asked about "other issues" and I mentioned the ascending aortic aneurysm, he asked the size, I told him and he said "Oh, it's small". That was reassuring.

I was told lift less than 11 pounds, but, I was already in the 'Large AAA' group, and later had surgeries.

This is your life.
Ask your doctor.

I’m curious about Drs saying your 3.8 aorta was classified as an aneurysm. Mine is 4. While dilated it’s been attributed to my being an endurance athlete. I was also told by my Drs that it’s a long way from needing any sort of surgical intervention. Also the chance of dissection is quite small. Was this your cardiologist or your primary care physician? I ask because my PCP told me it was an aneurysm but my cardiologist just said it was on high side of normal.

I have the same aortic problem, was told to stop the free weights along with squats. Told to just walk and stop the strenuous things in life, hot tubs elevate my BP. Good luck

My husband has an ascending aortic aneurysm that has measured 4.8 cm for the last two years; it was first seen on an echocardiogram at Mayo in Jan 2021; at that time he was 77 years, going on 78. He was advised not to lift anything over 30 lbs and he has been careful. Hot tubs and hot swimming pools are "not his thing." No problem or question there.
The Mayo surgeon looked back at his records and saw a CT scan that showed a mid level ascending aortic value of 4.3. At that time or later a Radiologist wrote that this was "normal" for his height and weight. The surgeon said it was "not normal."
So I agree with the people above who urge you to talk to an experienced aortic surgeon or a cardiologist, who has experience with aortic aneurysms. They can evaluate you; your height ad weight; other factors that could affect the aneurysm such as family history, any vasculitis, etc..
My husband's first cousin (same age) had an aneurysm in the exact same place as my husband. He was not aware of it. He had great health habits, including walking every day for three miles and lifting weights. The aneurysm "tore." He almost died. He was airlifted to a great CV hospital with lots of experience but had a clot two days after surgery and now has memory, vision and other issues --including an inability to use his right side.
Exercise and muscles are great but clearly these aneurysms are unpredictable. The new consensus guidelines have reduced recommendations for surgery to 5.0 cm from 5.5. As I remember (and I could be wrong) this was because 60 percent of patients ruptured before they got to 5.5 cm.