Ascending Aortic Aneurysm and Exercise

Thank you for sharing your experience. I have an ascending aortic aneurysm approaching 5.0. I was wondering how you are you doing with your recovery and where did you have your surgery?

Was your rep are procedure through open heart or could they do the catheter method? Where did you have your procedure, if you don’t mind me asking?

I’ve been reading about the 100s approach for weight lifting and think this may be a good option. Here’s some info:
https://scarysymptoms.com/2014/09/aortic-aneurysm-safely-build-muscle/

Thank you Amazing! Your post was very helpful. I hike with trekking sticks, walk, x-country ski, and kayak. Its the transfer of the kayak, and the enter/exit I struggle with, while trying NOT to use force. Unfortunately my aneurysm appears to have recently enlarged to 44 (soon to be measured again). I have had no guidelines on exercise regarding the aneurysm. My parameters have been loosely laid out in lieu of a comorbidity (angina). My aneurysm has taken a back seat. However, I do follow the posts here. These are helpful. I love cruising through the woods and over the water. I am not fast anymore, but I am still enjoying being able to do it. All the others out there seem to feel the same way. Thank you for your comments!

I am 71 y.o., 6'1" and 245 lbs. and diagnosed with 4.6 cm via MRA about 2-3 years ago when I was working a high stress job. I freaked when I was diagnosed, quit the job, and did nothing for a year physically (and deteriorated) for fear of worsening my condition, and read all I could online about it and learned a lot. On exercising, my cardiologist said that I shouldn't engage in the Valsalva maneuver when exerting, i.e. doing anything that makes me grunt or hold my breath during effort. He said all aerobics are fine and I could do any exercise if adhering to the rule. So currently, since my last office visit, I started a regimen of 1/2 hour rowing, followed by a circuit of weight machine training with weights that I can handle keeping steady breathing in and out, and then 1/2 hour fast walking on treadmill. I am trying to condition my body and lose more calories. There's some contradictory information on-line regarding exercising, and much of the advice is made up, e.g. how much weight should you lift in proportion of your body weight, etc. without taking variables into account. So, in a way, I am my own guinea pig. I see my MD next week and am due soon for my annual scan. We'll see. Anyway, is anybody else engaging in more than just aerobic exercise and if so, what regimen appears safe using resistance exercise in your experience?

It’s difficult! Do not strain! Pay someone to do that kind of work now if you have to. Ask someone else! Be kind to yourself! Best wishes.

It is my understanding and experience that blood pressure actually goes down during strenuous exercise. My BP is quite low when I take it immediately after getting off the strider (eliptical). You can ask your cardio about that. My ascending aneurysm is about the same size and is growing quite slowly over the past 17 years. I'm 78 YO and have been told to not lift more than 25 lbs. I wish you good luck.

Thank you for sharing your experience! Every now and the ignore the guideline and lift something I shouldn't. Your experience reminds me DO NOT STRAIN.

It was explained to me that the exercising where you walk, run, bike, stair step, whatever, is slowly increased and therefore that is why after exercise your BP normally goes down. The lifting where you hold your breath, grunt or groan and have to exert, then you are done is what is not good. I was lifting a heavy item when my aorta dissected in three places. It was an emergency situation. I previously had been diagnosed with a 4cm anuerysim in the arch. It was 4.5 at the time of dissection and emergency surgery. I will be 70 this year.

To kmailloux and others here; I went to the cardiovascular doctor today, and I got a very good report. First, the doc said that it was 3.9 cm and not 4.1 cm. Then, the doc went on to say that there was no need for surgery now, nor for the next decade at least. The doc said that my smoking did not affect my health very much at all (I am still quitting). The doc pulled up the scans, went over them in detail. I do have two very small calcium deposits in my heart, which was said to be of no issue. As for my meds, I don't take anything major. My blood pressure is great. What has been a major issue in my opinion, and the doctor concurred.......my anxiety was/ is in my chest. Having said that, I told the doc about when I heard about the moment when I called his office as to why they were calling me, and, of course, the person on the other end of the phone said 'we have been trying to schedule an appointment for your aneurysm.' THAT freaked me out. I was at the laundromat, and I kept on doing my laundry. The interesting thing was that after I had finished and put away my clothes, I felt fine. Since that moment (ten days ago), I have concentrated on 'what is it that I need to get done' and it really helped. It's like I was stopping procrastination in my life. Something like that. Thanks to all who encouraged me in this part of the journey.