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Exercise Guidance with Ascending aorta dilation
I am a 56 yo male recently diagnosed with a 4.7 cm ascending aorta dilation. Exercise and weight training has been a part of my life since I was 14 and I was told the following: no competitive sports, no contact sports, exercise more cardio versus "heavy lifting". I was told not to lift more than 50 pounds - super light for me, I have read other things like < 100 #, or half your body weight which is half my body weight. My doctor said swimming, light hiking, biking but no dead lifts which I do not do. I asked about HR parameters which my doctor said 150 or below is ok. I don't lift "heavy weights" anymore, but I did do pushups, planks and BW rows on TRX which I read was not great due to the isometric exercise that increases BP. I am a good shape so this 50#.no isometric restriction is an issue. I am not sure what I can in terms of resistance and what cardio intensity is acceptable? Physical activity has been a part of my life - I am looking for guidance as these restrictions are confusing to me. Any help would be great. Thanks! JZ
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@organizedchaos04 The first I learned of by aneurysm was when it dissected suddenly in my hotel room in San Diego while I was watching CNN. It was excruciating. It felt like someone was peeling the skin off my back. I was very aware of the fact that I was dying. I assumed in my brain that it was a widow maker heart attack because I could not make sense of it. For probably an hour before it really blew, I had a complete sense of foreboding and fear that I cannot explain. There's a lot of people who describe having a sense of doom before they fully dissect. That's the only sign and it was confusing at best. Anxiety maybe? Then it dissected suddenly. I'm quite certain that Senator Lindsey Graham felt something similar. May he rest in peace, politics aside.
On a lighter note, I am here working every day. I never missed a single hearing and was back doing a federal mediation 42 days after open heart surgery. I am the luckiest guy alive and I never forget that. Peace.
Thank you again for your kind (and intelligent) response. We must use common sense along with medical knowledge when looking at the reality of our lives, especially when dealing with something as serious as an aneurysm. Peace (smile) Professor Karen Harmon