I have an ascending aortic aneurysm. I joined here to learn more about lifestyle adjustments and hopefully, help with the anxiety it has provoked. I am 60 yrs. old, female, borderline LDL (high HDL), and have Raynaud's Phenomenon. I am 5’7 and 127 pounds. My aneurysm measures 3.9 cm and it is mildly aneurysmal. My genetic testing came back positive for a mutation of the MYH-11 gene. So, it is familial. However, I don’t know of any family that this was found on.
I love lifting weights and they have been heavy - deadlifting 265 lbs, squatting 200 lbs, bench 110 lbs. The news to reduce my weight to 50 lbs was difficult. I understand the rationale, but then I was told 30 lbs when the genetic factor was discovered. I have been to a CV surgeon and cardiologist. My BP is 100-110/60 normally, but I was put on losartan 12.5 mg at bedtime. HR 55-60 resting. I am tolerating the medication. I have lessened my weight by 40-70% on average. I breath through all exercises. I do not do back squats and deadlifts with a straight bar or trap bar. No overhead presses. No straining and no holding my breath.

I feel the weight guideline is a bit odd. For the most part, I can follow the 30-50 pound limit, but some things especially with the lower body (example hip thrust 50 lbs is nothing - the bar and 5 pounds). No use to do this even with many reps. I have kept weight low for the most part. Doing exercises to pre-exhaust the muscle. Many times this is with body weight. I feel in this instance using a scale of 0-10 for level of exertion might be helpful. One could do an exercise with 20 pounds and you could potentially strain. You could do a different exercise with 65 pounds and it is easier than what you just did with 20 pounds. Does anyone else feel it to be confusing to use a weight limit? I think keeping weight down, but utilizing a scale of effort or exertion is most helpful. Has anyone else been given advice to use an exertion scale?