Aorta Just Found out need some info

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BosnianDude

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2022
Messages
5
Hi guys Canadian her well. On my last cardiologist check up (not my cardiologist i been seen seeing for few years) regarding PAC/PVC i head for 20 years which echocardiogram was done stress test with echo, EKG 48H holter monitor all come back fine except that new cardiologist noted Aorta root was dilated 40mm and ascending aorta was dilated 3.9 mm this was all news to me and a shocking since i have huge heart anxiety, this cardiologist did no bring this up till i called back and asked about it. He he said yes i seen it and we will retest in a year, he never mentioned no exercise no weight lifting, no blood pressure control which is slightly up like 135/80 and only exercise i do is jogging which i have stooped because i was reading to stop all form of exercise. I have 4 small kids and this is worrying and bringing my anxiety way up.

Now i seen my original cardiologist since 2020 i email him those results asking was this picked up at all since i seen him twice in 3 years one was full cardio work ekg, 48H holter monitor, stress test with echocardiogram. passed second tests same but this time stress test with echo they injected me with million of tiny bubbles called echo bubble steady to get better image i passed, aorta was not mentioned i did this test because i been getting some type of vertigo like dizzies on a boat felling this comes as fast as it goes. was told by my gp its vertigo. I did email my old cardiologist latest results one with Aorta report his response is below.

Our baseline ECHO shows that your ascending aorta is normal at 37mm
and the KMH echo value is 39mm, this is within the margin of error of
the echo test and does not mean that you have a large aorta (the
measurement is measured manually, it is not automatically generated).
Usually, we only worry about an enlarged aorta once it is above 50mm
which is far higher than your value. The aortic root measurement
depends on where in the root we measure, ours was 35mm, the KMH value
was 39mm, again this is still within the margin of error of the ECHO
test. In this case, I do not know exactly were they measured it, our
lab only calls an abnormal value if it is larger than 45mm at the
sinuses of valsalva (Once again yours is less than the abnormal
value). Small differences in measurements are normal using ECHO. I
would call your values normal and would not worry about them. I hope
this answers your questions

I attached my reports for you guys to take a look and tell me if i should push for better tests or worry..

1 What tests should i ask for for better image measurements. MRI, CT or transesophageal echocardiogram
2 should i ask to see a Aortic specialist
3 what about my blood pressure
4 can i exercise jogging?

Thanks you so much for your time and help

Latest report


first 2020 reports from my cardiologist
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi and welcome to the forum.

I think that you should take a deep breath and relax. Your echos show normal valves- ask anyone here- that is something to be grateful for. You have very minor aortic dilation, but I see no cause for worry, which won't do you any good anyway.

Your cardiologist is aware of your slight dilation and is following up with you annually with an echo. This is the proper thing to do and the proper test to evaluate.

When you emailed your old cardiologist, it sounds like he did his best to soothe your anxiety:

"
Our baseline ECHO shows that your ascending aorta is normal at 37mm
and the KMH echo value is 39mm, this is within the margin of error of
the echo test and does not mean that you have a large aorta "

He also said:

"Small differences in measurements are normal using ECHO. I
would call your values normal and would not worry about them "

So, I would strongly suggest you take his advice and not worry about them. Your new cardiologist is going to test you annually and keep an eye on it. So, relax and live and enjoy every minute of life.

only exercise i do is jogging which i have stooped because i was reading to stop all form of exercise.

So, let me understand this; Your cardiologist has not told you that you need to stop exercising, but you have done so because you read somewhere that you should? Confirm with your cardiologist, but if he says its ok to exercise, which he almost certainly will, then you should resume exercise.

You have indicated that you have anxiety issues. It would appear that you don't so much have an aorta issue as an anxiety issue, which is very real. Exercise is one of the best natural ways to combat anxiety, so I would definitely not give that up unless I was instructed to do so by my doctor. It is also vital for health in general.

See links below:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases...in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.714014/full
 
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