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Thanks for posting this gsl. Very interesting. It makes a lot of sense. My measurements have been holding steady at 4.7-4.8 cm for a couple of years. I find it’s a battle just to arrange semiannual measurements, let alone actually see a cardiologist or surgeon. Perhaps if this paper is...

I can see how the ExoVasc procedure would prevent aortic rupture. But how would it help prevent dissection? If the material is incorporated into the outer layer of the aorta, what is to stop blood forming a channel between the synthetic outer layer and inner layer?

I hope your love of outdated technologies.doesnt extend to heart valves and surgical techniques. ;-)

I've put my Garmin 920XT up for sale. I never liked wearing the strap so I wasn't getting a lot of HR data. Now with the  Watch I see my heart rate throughout the day and have a chart to show the cardiologist.

I wouldn't say you are overdoing it. I climb the local mountain twice everyday for a gain of over 5,200'. My ascending aorta is 4.7 cm. I had lots of PVC's in previous years, but since the aneurism diagnosis I keep my heart rate down a bit. They've completely stopped. So for me it was...

I've wondered the same thing. My surgeon says the mortality risk of surgery is 4%, which is higher than the risk of dissection. I'm at 4.7-4.8 cm currently. But the fact that there is a significant dissection risk in waiting a few years and then still having the surgery risk makes me wonder...

My situation is similar. BAV, ascending aorta 4.7/4.8, and a surgeon who specializes in valave sparing. I'm a little taller, at 5' 11". What puzzles me is that my aorta went from 4.0 to 4.7 in 7 years but the contrast CT measurement I just had done showed no change from last year. I just...

It sounds like you did everything right. Unfortunately your growth rate is entirely normal. It's genetics, not lifestyle. Mine has grown by 0.1 cm per year for eight years and is now 4.9 cm. I haven't heard of 4.5 cm being used as a threshold for surgery. Generally it's 5.5 cm. So relax...

What led you to use 145-155 as maximum safe heart rate? Neither my cardiologist or surgeon would give me a number. I chose 140 as my max, but I do go over occasionally. I stopped running races but still do a daily double "Grouse Grind", which is a popular local climb. That means 1,600 meters...

My ascending aorta is 4.8 cm. My cardiologist had no issues ordering a stress test. I gave up on level 6 out of 7. During that level my heart rate was 160 and my systolic was 160.

I came across that too, Don. But your point makes sense. There is a risk of dissection each year and then there is still the same risk of surgery (unless, as cldhd says, there are medical advances). So even if the risk of dissection each year is lower than the risk of surgery, the cumulative...

4.8 cm (by echo and ultrasound). I'm not overly stressed about the thought that I could dissect. And limits to aren't a problem because I wasn't given any! My limits are ones I've decided on myself after reading the feedback here and elsewhere. I continue to run and hike, but try to keep the...

Yes, it seems logical to me too. Unfortunately, my cardiologists use the Canadian guidelines (5.5 cm) and my cardiac surgeon just said the risk of the surgery was higher than the risk of dissection. He didn't give me the option of having the surgery now. I've heard so many, like you, who's...

That's what I though too Jordan. But I asked if the fact that I was very fit would reduce the mortality rate from 3-4% and the surgeon said no. He did say that he would try to save my valve. Maybe the risk of a valve sparing procedure is higher than replacing both the aorta and valve at the...

Awesome video dangerousmotto! Thanks for posting. And yes, I do agree that another opinion would be good because of the variance in advice by cardiologists and surgeons. My surgeon said the mortality risk of the procedure would be 3 to 4%, which would be more than the risk of dissection. If...

I hope things are handled properly for you going forward. Please post your aorta diameter when you get, what should be, the definitive measurement. And also any feedback on the effects of stress, or excercise limitations, you come across. A big lesson for me, as for you, is the necessity of...

That's great that you are getting a proper CT scan now vs. six months from now. And such personal attention! I can't imagine a call from my cardiologist. My last call from a physician was a year and a half ago when my GP called to tell me that an echo showed my valve wasn't too bad yet. I...

I'm surprised they would do a CT scan without the contrast medium. And that you were put on blood pressure meds. That wasn't even brought up with me. But my running means my BP is normally 100/60. Don't let it paralyze you. There's lots you can do to stay fit. My cardiologist said to keep...

I would second what Don said Brynn. My aorta has grown by 1mm per year for the past eight years. My surgeon said if that rate increased significantly, he would operate. You've not only had a very rapid growth rate, but in absolute terms you would qualify for surgery. The CT scan result is...

I did plan to buy a blood pressure monitor suitable for use while exercising. But my surgeon said not to bother since he couldn't give me any guidelines on a safe blood pressure or heart rate anyway. So I just decided to make my own guidelines from feedback on this forum and other reading...