I was just diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm. I’ve been skate cross country skiing for years, which is a quite intense aerobic exercise. I also do resistance training where I hold my breath during some lifts. I don’t know where I go from here. Quit all that? My cardiologist hasn’t said anything about exercise restrictions yet. Only saw him once.
I would love to know if you get a response. I'm not as active as you are but also lifts weights during weekly training and am quite active aerobically. I am also with aneurysm and mildly enlarged aorta
The risk of any particular activity or exercise depends on the extent and stability of aortic disease, conditioning, and factors like hypertension. Your risk may not be the same as someone else’s, even if you have the same diagnosis. We encourage everyone to have a complete exam, recent imaging, and consultation with your aortic care team before you start any new moderate or vigorous activity. If your aortic team has not given you guidance please bring this up an your next appointment and remember that it is your right to seek a second opinion if you are not satisfied with the answer.
Thanks for this. I dissected on 11/15/22. I’ve been searching for answers but my care team seems to be pretty distracted and not as available as I would like. Type B dissection starting at my subclavian down to my femoral. Also have aneurysm on my aortic arch.
monitor it yourself by insisting on echocardiograms every 6 months and get the written results. I had 3 chronic dissections in 2002. I had serious open heart surgery for repair of my aortic arch then hours later aorta heart valve was replaced. I live on Warfarin. Most important is walking 2 hours a week. slow not fast. I'm 78 and they thought id die in 2 months after surgery its been 22 years
My wife had her aortic arch with a descending stent called Frozen Elephant Trunk in March 2023 at Cleveland Clinic after our local thoracic surgeon said he wasn't willing to open her. Her entire aorta was aneurysmal. In July we went back for a descending thoracic endovascular procedure. We return in December to address the abdominal. Send your records there even if only for a consult.
I have a 4.7 cm ascending aorta aneurysm. Diagnosed as a result of a ct scan of my lungs. An angiogram two months ago didn't show the aorta thing, and only a minor obstruction of an artery (20%). I'm 70 years old, have always done serious sport (bicycle racing), no cholesterol problems, no blood pressure problems, not overweight (79 kg at 1.82 height). For some years I've felt chest pain while riding my bike, so I've almost given it up. It's no fun anymore. Even walking at a somewhat higher pace gives that constricted feeling, and the chest pain. I would like to start exercising again, even if there is chest pain, if only to have a sense of accomplishment, and hopefully resulting in better fysical condition. Is that a bad idea, considering the 4.7 cm ascending aorta? I wouldn't like to rupture anything!
This is so depressing; all the things I love to do are “forbidden”. What’s the sense of living when you have to treat yourself like a fragile glass ornament?
I know the feeling. First 90 days of laying in bed, barely able to walk without getting exhausted was rough on my mental health. I’ve now focused the things I can do. Hang in there man.
I was pretty upset that I was not allowed to participate this January since my dissection occurred in 2014. She said they only wanted people with recent dissection. I was really looking forward to meeting other people with dissection. I had told her in my first phone call that I dissected in 2014. She later confirmed that I was approved for participating by email. Had my plans made. Husband took of from work etc. Than get a call, that said sorry but missed where I said you dissected in 2014 and I was no longer welcome. In this talk he is not talking about time frame past dissection. My type B dissection is still there!!!
I've wondered that as well. A number of years ago I ruptured a biceps tendon (R shoulder). It was not repaired. The result was that I now have an arm that is essentially useless for much of anything that involves heavy things. It majorly is a pain in the ass. I used to love lifting weights, doing bicep curls, and the like, now if I want to do these activities, I really can only do them with my L arm. Whatever you do, don't tear a biceps tendon!
I am listening to all of thid and would like more info. My aortic team isn't much of a team and don't answer questions on exercise. I am just winging it and have a feeling I am going to hurt myself.
I wish I could help. I was just diagnosed with an enlarged ascending aorta. I don't even trust my current cardiologist to manage watching it. I am planing on going to a bigger better group that is 2.5 hours away.
In your experience has an aortic aneurism ever regressed in its dilation? Could this happen under the right conditions such as weight loss, diet change, with no risk factors? And what is the aorta made of? Does it have its own blood supply? Can the tissue regenerate?
Unfortunately no, thoracic aortic aneurysms do not shrink or disappear. Lifestyle management and medication can prevent further growth or dilation. The aorta is made up of three layers, the intima, media, and adventitia. Dr. Estrera and Dr. Elefteriades have videos on this channel that go in depth on this topic!
@@JohnRitterFoundationHi! My sibling had an 4.5 cm Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm for FIVE years and had several CT scans during those years for monitoring. She had strong faith in God that He would heal her. So, about a month ago, her cardiologist confirmed with her recent CT scan the aneurysm was gone!!! She has medical documentation stating so. Just wanted to encourage someone that JESUS is our creator and He can HEAL! ❤ God Bless You All! #faithinGod
Exactly. The problem is that the admonishment to not do anything strenuous, or isometric, or that requires Valsalva (and I'm not even clear if "bearing down" is okay if you breath through it) has zero impact on the majority of sedentary people who wouldn't do those things even if you held a gun to their heads, so it's easy to just recommend that. But I'm 62 and I am an elite endurance athlete who also does heavy barbell training, so that advice wipes my world off the map.
