Dilated ascending aorta
Dilated ascending aorta
I am a 40 yo male, long-time 3x week erg, 3x week gym. Last month went sub-7 for 2K. Then, got diagnosed with dilated ascending aorta 48.8mm (and bicuspid valve). Doc1 says no more heavy weightlifting b/c it causes increased intrathoracic pressure but it's okay to erg. Doc2 says no extreme weightlifting and erging is bad b/c it also causes intrathoracic pressure. "What's extreme?" "Don't bear down." Any insights into how I can exercise while being vigilant against intrathoracic pressure? Anything more objective than "don't bear down"? Is how I breath determinative? Does it have anything to do with the glottis? Am I banished to the bike and the running trails? Thanks for any insights.
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icomefrombirmingham
- 2k Poster
- Posts: 249
- Joined: July 13th, 2007, 2:48 pm
- Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Hi Mark,
No really objective insights here, but lots of empathy as I have a bicuspid aortic valve too.
I also was told to stay off heavy lifting, moderate weights and increased reps being ok.
My internist is keen for me to do cardio-type excercise. I would have thought that the safety of rowing, given the dilated AO was dependant on intensity?...lung-bursting sprints no...long, moderate rows yes...much like the weights?
Also, with the bicuspid valve they will be measuring the thickness of your heart wall over time I imagine? As I understand it, it is the progression of the thickening over time that is key, not necessarily the measurement at one point in time.
Is this true for the dilation of the AO?
Brent
No really objective insights here, but lots of empathy as I have a bicuspid aortic valve too.
I also was told to stay off heavy lifting, moderate weights and increased reps being ok.
My internist is keen for me to do cardio-type excercise. I would have thought that the safety of rowing, given the dilated AO was dependant on intensity?...lung-bursting sprints no...long, moderate rows yes...much like the weights?
Also, with the bicuspid valve they will be measuring the thickness of your heart wall over time I imagine? As I understand it, it is the progression of the thickening over time that is key, not necessarily the measurement at one point in time.
Is this true for the dilation of the AO?
Brent
6'2.5", 228lbs[img]http://www.c2ctc.com/sigs/img1247165781.png[/img]
Brent,
My impression is that for a dilated aorta, as soon as the measurement hits a certain number, they're going to recommend swapping it out. The rate of dilation is only going to be relevant to how frequently they bring me back in for echo measure. But I think that once I hit 50mm, whether it's in 6 months or 20 years, they're going to want to replace it, perhaps along with my valve.
btw, I was diagnosed with the valve long ago, but only recently did a new doc press me to go get an echo which led to this discovery. It might be worth pressing your doc a little bit about. Even the doc who sent me for the echo did not even hear my murmur until I told him a different doc had heard it 6 years earlier. So, it's good that Doc 1 heard it back then, and it's good that Doc 2 ordered the follow-up that Doc 1 never did.
mk
My impression is that for a dilated aorta, as soon as the measurement hits a certain number, they're going to recommend swapping it out. The rate of dilation is only going to be relevant to how frequently they bring me back in for echo measure. But I think that once I hit 50mm, whether it's in 6 months or 20 years, they're going to want to replace it, perhaps along with my valve.
btw, I was diagnosed with the valve long ago, but only recently did a new doc press me to go get an echo which led to this discovery. It might be worth pressing your doc a little bit about. Even the doc who sent me for the echo did not even hear my murmur until I told him a different doc had heard it 6 years earlier. So, it's good that Doc 1 heard it back then, and it's good that Doc 2 ordered the follow-up that Doc 1 never did.
mk
Dilated ascendin aorta
It is called post-stenotic dilatation, and only becomes clinically relevent in a minority of people with bicuspid aortic valves.
If you exercise properly, keeping heart rate within target range for age and fitness level, the actual exercise does not matter too much. It is the sudden changes in blood pressure which are the problem, like snow shovelling or resistance training with excessive weight.
If you exercise properly, keeping heart rate within target range for age and fitness level, the actual exercise does not matter too much. It is the sudden changes in blood pressure which are the problem, like snow shovelling or resistance training with excessive weight.