What makes ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms increase in size?

I absolutely understand. I am also 80 and sitting at 4.2 TAA. I’m 5’2 so I’m not sure what they consider to be surgery ready. Every day is a challenge so I try to stay busy but my mind drifts often and sometimes I take a quarter of a Xanax to level a bit. (Kinda hard to split a25 mg in 4 pieces😂 but I don’t want to rely on it). My cardiologist is not optimistic about surgery for me. We must pray that they further develop TEVAR for a quicker, easier surgery.🙏🏻🤞🏻

Meanwhile back at the ranch I am concerned however my 4.3 has remained stable. I wear a health alert bracelet which along with TAA also includes the message "No fluoroquinolones" . This med can increase the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection. Every year my adult daughter and I cruise and enjoy vacation time together. We sailed first with my granddaughter when she was younger and now just the two of us. Planning and cruising keeps my mind on creating more happy memories. After the first blush of nerves the wonderful people on this thread gave me great words of wisdom. I took the advice and now concentrate on enjoying every moment of living. Please try to stay positive.

4.2 isn’t considered surgery ready. I am 4.2 in 2023. I’ll have another CT next month. My cardiologist says we will discuss surgery at 5.0. I’m 77.

Thank you, Kathy. Do you have any other heart issues, ie leaky valves, blockages?

Consider your diagnosis as a BLESSING. That is how you live with it. There are many people out there who have not been diagnosed yet. They too have a ticking time bomb. Unlike you and I, those people do not know they need to keep their B/P very low, not lift heavy weight, not hold their breath diung anything stressful. maintain a heart health y diet and get their personal affairs in order, (Final Will, Healthy Care Power of Attorney, financial information, inform Family members of websites, passwords and on & on). I call this getting My Ducks in a Row. I have been working on this since I was diagnosed at 4.7cm. I am now 5.4 cm and not a good surgical candidate. I have never smoked, drank alcohol, abused drugs, etc. Its just life happens. We are blessed to have the opportunity to "get ready" for what lies ahead, be it surgery or if not a surgival candidate, to live and enjoy life each & every day that we wake up.

I am right there with you. Each day is a Blessing to live it.

First & foremost, using different types of screening equipment ot measure your aneurysm is NOT useful. The hallmark or Gold Standard is the CT with Contrast. That is the most accurate way to measure your aneurysm. Downside of that is using Contrast is hard on your kidneys so you do not want to have the comparision measurement done but once a year. using CT with Contrast. An Echo or a CT without contrast is not going to measure the same as a CT with Contrast. It only serves to confuse or alarm you.

I always include GOD in everything I do in life. HE is the best DOCTOR..I was diagnosed with Ascending Aortic Aneurysm 44 mm (4.4cm) in Oct 2021, follow up aortic dimension of 49 mm (4.9 cm) in Nov 2022.
After that I have been having CT scan every year, and the surgeon said the meds that they put me into is really working for (BP) 3meds...the size is still the same when the last time I had a CT scan March 2025.. is still 4.9 cm. I told my doctor I have been consuming heart health food ( he didnt believe in it) he thought it was the pharmaceutical drugs I have been taking . I am 66 years old, still alive and kicking, doing all this high impact workout but not lifting heavy weights..I am only lifting 8 lbs each hand..Do you think from doing kickboxing, bootcamps, HIIT's workout will increase the size of the aneurysm. I have been doing it since I was diagnosed but I know how to modify myself. I am a fitness instructor and everytime I am infront fo 30 people , I have this thing in mind that it could burst anytime and this could be it. But since then, I am so confident because I include GOD everytime I train these people. I believe prayer is the most powerful weapon in facing life's challenges. "I continue to pray to GOD for a miracle-that the aneurysm will shrink and surgery won't be necessary. With GOD, all things are possible, and I truly believe that."Good luck with your help and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

I have valve regurgitation, which causes an irregular heartbeat. I’ve had many tests and my doctors are not concerned about it. It doesn’t affect my level of exercise.

Look, I respect your religious beliefs and your belief in God. Nevertheless, God put doctors here and Medicine here so that we can benefit from it and not ignore reality. I dissected almost 10 years ago. It was sudden and absolutely unexpected. It was literally the worst thing that’s ever happened to me and I can tell you that I was so incredibly miserable in a coma that I would’ve done anything to meet God and stay. What I went through was an absolute hell. So, hold onto your belief in God, but listen to your doctors because they were put here by the same God to help you. You don’t shrink an aneurysm with diet and exercise. An aneurysm gets bigger over overtime. You may have stabilized yours and that’s good, but once you get above 5 cm you’re gonna be a candidate for surgery and you’re right on the border. So keep praying but don’t ignore the gifts you’ve been given in the form of a world class thoracic surgeon and top-notch medical care put here by God to help you. Peace.