Ascending aorta

Well again 5.0 seems to be the magic number. I have a 4.2 for years Doctors don’t even mention it to me I’m 73+ I have lots of other heart issues more pressing So I just exercise, try to eat a good diet, follow up with my PCP, Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist take my meds and “try to be a good boy” my wife of 40 years tells me . 😄

I was diagnosed with TAA (4.3) a little over two years ago. Let the worry begin is how I started out. I am in my 70's and I eat pretty much healthy with a glass of wine now and then. I am part of my Regional Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Surveillance program through my health care provider and last October they gave me the green light to wait for three years for my next ECG-Gated CTA. I had a Sinus of Valsalva Root at 4.0 cm and Ascending Aorta at 4.3 cm. After doing to major happy dance I booked another cruise I have four booked in the coming years one more this year, two next year and one on 2027. I decided having fun and trying not to think of my TAA and other health issues was a better way to handle my health issue. Trust me in the beginning I did way too much worrying after adding this to my other health issues.

I'm 63 years old and on May 23,2025. I had a Coronary CT Angiogram, which showed l had a ascending aorta of 4.3 cm. I've posted several times but l keep having questions about my situation. Anyway, l know that lot of people or dealing with their own health issues and l wish them all the best. First, is
a Coronary CT Angiogram an accurate test for the aorta. Secondly, when I met with the cardiologist he explained about the size and that it would need to be checked every 6 months. I asked about exercising and what l should and shouldn't do. His answer was no heavy lifting no high intensity workouts, which l do neither of. But questions like cutting grass or working in my yard l didn't think to ask about. I have always cut my own grass since l was a kid when my Dad showed me how and for the last 50 plus years l always have. I enjoy working in my yard. l know this is a long winded question but does anyone have an option about pushing a lawnmower or trimming hedges of pruning trees. Would this be bad for me. I would appreciate all opinions.
Thank you

I enjoy gardening too and have stopped doing the heavy lifting--no more hauling bags of soil from one spot to another. I don't weed much anymore either, especially if I have to pull hard on things like ivy, but I can still prune shrubs and small branches on trees. I wish I could do more and miss spending hours in the yard but pruning is satisfying. Do what you can and don't sweat the rest. If your lawnmower is self-propelling, I imagine it would be okay to push it, but I'm no doctor.

I'm in a very similar situation.
I'm 63 and have been diagnosed with a 4.3 cm ascending aortic aneurysm. I've had an echocardiagram, x-ray and CT scan that confirms it is 4.3 cm. I think what is next is an angiogram? I have an appointment with the cardiologist on June 18th. I have heard that 4.3 isn't very big and I could expect to live a normal life with some precautions but the thing that scares me is that I have some pain or discomfort in my upper back and left shoulder and sometime little sharp pains in my chest. I'm still working, recently married and just had a baby a few days ago. I cut my own grass, need to lift some things occasionally. Is sex risky? taking tadalafil? These are some of my questions and concerns. Thank you all for the helpful input.

Taking tadalafil may be risky. I would consult with your Cardiologist on that one especially in light of your chest discomfort. Your lifting should not be over 25-30 lbs. A CT with Contrast is the GOLD STANDARD for measuring size of the ascending aortic aneurysm.

Cutting your grass is not what I consider a high density workout. It is a prolonged exercise but unless you are pushing your mower up a long hill, I think flat grass cutting is fine. As to trimminmg grass edges, that would depend upon how heavy your weed eater equipment is. You might want to keep your lifitng to less than 20 - 25 lbs and keep your arm muscles strong through regular hand weights provided they are lifting no more than 10 lbs each which would be 20 lbs total. . Pruning shrubs should not be an issue. The main thing to remember is that you should never be holding your breath while doing any lifting. That is the first sign that your weight lifting is too high

beverly48,
Thank you for responding. It's just a shock when you find out that you have this heart issue. But it's a blessing l found out and can have it monitored. It's scary to think if l wouldn't have found out l would still be doing things the way I always have.
Too much heavy lifting, over doing myself. Anyway, l wish good health to everyone and l hope whatever you're dealing with it will work out for you.

I wanted to respond to what you said about sometimes getting pain in your upper back. I have been getting pain in my upper back between the shoulder blades. I can't recall ever having that before. It is scary not knowing what it is for sure. But l would think that the Coronary CT Angiogram would have shown something. So hopefully if you're having this procedure it will show any issues. I think mind is from tensing up and being stressed out about everything
and it's the muscles in my back. Good luck to you.

I believe everyone is somewhat shocked to find out they have an aortic aneurysm. Mine was found when I was hospitalized Dec 2020 with severe Blateral COVID Pneumonia. I deteriorated after hospitalization and the lung scan showed the Ascending Aortic Aneurysm at that time. Yes, I was distressed as I knew little about a thoracic aortic aneurysm. It was somewhere around 4.7-4.8 in 2020. Today it is 5.4 and I am scheduled for another annual CT Ww/contrast at Duke in late July. The COVID Pneumonia has left me with Pulmonary Fibrosis and I am about to start treatment with OFEV this month. The pulmonary fibrosis makes me a poor surgical candidate for Aortic Aneurysm repair. I do ot meet the criteria for TEVAR repair so surgery must be open heart. type repair. My aortic valve has begun to have regurge and I have a small pericardial effusion as well.