I too struggle with what is safe and what isn't. It can be very frustrating. I was basically told to live my life...don't lift more than 50 lbs, and do not strain. What exactly does that mean....do not strain? Sometimes getting out of bed in the morning is a strain! Fortunately my BP is not high and really never has been. Have had high cholesterol most of my life and am now on statins, which have lowered it to normal levels. I question everything I do now. I low snow shoveling (I know I am not normal...lol) but that seems to be a big No in general. My dr said it would be ok as long as I am not straining and it isn't too heavy. There's that word again...straining. Obviously it isn't like lifting a pillow, but then again it doesn't feel like I am moving tree stumps around (which I have done). Right now I have been stacking firewood....and alternating between thinking I must be nuts and I am not straining or lifting more than 50 lbs so it is ok. I just don't know. Have heard that tennis, golf, baseball are all not good. Don't feel like any of those involve "straining". This whole thing has caused me so much anxiety. I am constantly taking my blood pressure and checking my heart rate. I wish there was some type of test that could be done on a monthly basis that checks the aorta. Waiting a year between exams is kind of scary. I was diagnosed about 18 months ago. Have had 2 CT scans and am stable at somewhere between 4.3 and 4.5 cm. Going for my next exam end of May.