My experience is much the same as booklover71. I found out by accident, freaked out, educated myself, and decided to make the changes needed to live my life.

I wanted more data to know whether my ascending aortic aneurysm was stable or growing, so I've had a CT with contrast dye and an echocardiogram every 6 months for the past year and a half. Seeing stability in the data has helped me stay calm. I check my BP for 5 days each month. My cardiologist added a beta blocker to my BP medication as a dual strategy to lower the pressure of blood flow. I wear a medical alert bracelet and now have a "wardrobe" of bracelets to go with different outfits 😁. See laurenshope.com

I've lifted weights all my adult life and tended to lift and haul stuff all the time. That has been the biggest change for me. I miss doing weight training and I don't like needing to ask for help, but better that than a dissection hoisting my carryon suitcase into the overhead bin.

Hang in there. This is a process of change and acceptance. Knowing it is there means we are much less likely to die from a sudden dissection.