Hello everyone....I am 69 years old, and I have recently been diagnosed with a 'mild aneurysmal dilation ascending thoracic aorta measuring 4.1 cm'. Since I haven't been in a hospital for over 30=years, and I have had quite good health, this has hit me with major anxiety. My mother had heart issues. I also have smoked the last ten years, and I smoked ten out the previous 17 years before that. I am 5'8", weighing around 194 lbs. I read through all of the comments, and I am greatly surprised and grateful with how many of you exercise regularly. My main question; will surgery be recommended? Or can I work on this with medications and exercise? I have (and still am) a registered licensed basketball official for the past 25+ years. I received this news a month after the lung scan that I took. Any and all input is desired and appreciated.