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Worried About My Abdominal Anuersym..it Is At 3.. Based On
Question: Worried about my abdominal anuersym..it is at 3.. based on studies what are the chances that this anuerysm will continue to grow..what can I do to stop this besides lower blood pressure..does heart rate affect this because I have anxiety at times and my hr and blood pressure will go up..I am 60 female ..I have lots of life to live! Should I not do any heavy lifting? How about stretching and yoga? Thanks so much!
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer ahead
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome.
This is Dr Sameer cardiologist.
I can see that you have a abdominal aortic aneurysm of proximal aorta and the current size is 30mm.
The risk of rupture of AAA depend on its size and increase in size per year.
A aneurysm more than 50mm and size increasing by 1cm per year is prone to rupture and needs further management.
What was the aneurysm size last year?
The risk factors for increase in size of aneurysm is mainly high BP & smoking. Their are others but these play major chunk of role.
Aneurysm is like a weak spot in a pipe, if the pressure in the pipe continue to be high the risk of its increase in size and gradual rupture are high.
Any sympathetic stimulus (like smoking, persistent anxiety, very high intake of caffeine) may increase the pressure and cause its size to increase.
The main treatment regimen is controlling BP and heart rate.
Yes you can exercise but strenuous exercise is not advisable. You definitely can do yoga (milder exercise).
You have a long and good life ahead and hope this aneurysm won't bother you much
Thanks and regards
Detailed answer ahead
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome.
This is Dr Sameer cardiologist.
I can see that you have a abdominal aortic aneurysm of proximal aorta and the current size is 30mm.
The risk of rupture of AAA depend on its size and increase in size per year.
A aneurysm more than 50mm and size increasing by 1cm per year is prone to rupture and needs further management.
What was the aneurysm size last year?
The risk factors for increase in size of aneurysm is mainly high BP & smoking. Their are others but these play major chunk of role.
Aneurysm is like a weak spot in a pipe, if the pressure in the pipe continue to be high the risk of its increase in size and gradual rupture are high.
Any sympathetic stimulus (like smoking, persistent anxiety, very high intake of caffeine) may increase the pressure and cause its size to increase.
The main treatment regimen is controlling BP and heart rate.
Yes you can exercise but strenuous exercise is not advisable. You definitely can do yoga (milder exercise).
You have a long and good life ahead and hope this aneurysm won't bother you much
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I exercise about one hour a day with stationary bike and elliptical is that too much? I exercise to get rid of my anxiety .. I have been exercising most of my adult life to get rid of the anxiety..I have avoided taking meds for the spikes of blood pressure..do people get anuerysm with spikes of occasional blood pressure?? Most of the time it was good but occasionally it would spike up.. this diagnosis has really spiked my anxiety! I am on blood pressure meds now hydrochlorthazide 12.5..I do not know what my last echo was except that is was normal.. what is the normal range for this??? Thanks so much.. can I lift things??
One more thing ..isn’t the normal range for abdominal aortic diameter up to 3cm.. so am I still in the normal range.. or just over the normal range?
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer ahead
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
The normal size of abdominal aorta is between 2-3cm and anything above or equal to 3cm is called as Aneurysm. Yours is called as small aortic aneurysm.
AAA gradually expand over years, aneurysm with size better 3 to 5.5cm in diameter generally expand with 0.2-0.3cm/year. That is why yearly checkup and abdominal ultrasound is so important to assess severity and need for intervention (as I told you, aneurysm with size 5-5.5cm or increase in size >1cm/year need repair).
The 5year risk for rupture of aneurysm 3-4cm is only 5%.
BP and smoking are 2 very important risk factors which determines prognosis. Occasional BP spike also need treatment as you are rightly taking. Hydrochlorothiazide will be sufficient for you, but do monitor your BP and electrolyte (Sodium and Potassium) regularly.
Moderate physical exercise is recommended for patient with AAA as it may limit AAA growth, also it does not influence risk of rupture. So yes you can exercise on your bicycle and lift things. Don't be anxious about your disease, it is very small and nothing to be feared of currently. Most of the people find it incidentally when they do their routine checkup or are admitted for some other reason and believe me we have found sizes much more in those individuals and still they are fine.
So don't worry, forget you have any disease. You just need to see your doctor every year for ultrasound abdomen and nothing more.
I'll also advise to add a beta blocker to your treatment regimen, which will tackle your heart rate and has some beneficial action too. Kindly discuss it with your doctor too.
If you are smoking, please quit it.
Rest you will remain fine and will live a long and healthy life.
My best regards
Thank you
Detailed answer ahead
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
The normal size of abdominal aorta is between 2-3cm and anything above or equal to 3cm is called as Aneurysm. Yours is called as small aortic aneurysm.
AAA gradually expand over years, aneurysm with size better 3 to 5.5cm in diameter generally expand with 0.2-0.3cm/year. That is why yearly checkup and abdominal ultrasound is so important to assess severity and need for intervention (as I told you, aneurysm with size 5-5.5cm or increase in size >1cm/year need repair).
The 5year risk for rupture of aneurysm 3-4cm is only 5%.
BP and smoking are 2 very important risk factors which determines prognosis. Occasional BP spike also need treatment as you are rightly taking. Hydrochlorothiazide will be sufficient for you, but do monitor your BP and electrolyte (Sodium and Potassium) regularly.
Moderate physical exercise is recommended for patient with AAA as it may limit AAA growth, also it does not influence risk of rupture. So yes you can exercise on your bicycle and lift things. Don't be anxious about your disease, it is very small and nothing to be feared of currently. Most of the people find it incidentally when they do their routine checkup or are admitted for some other reason and believe me we have found sizes much more in those individuals and still they are fine.
So don't worry, forget you have any disease. You just need to see your doctor every year for ultrasound abdomen and nothing more.
I'll also advise to add a beta blocker to your treatment regimen, which will tackle your heart rate and has some beneficial action too. Kindly discuss it with your doctor too.
If you are smoking, please quit it.
Rest you will remain fine and will live a long and healthy life.
My best regards
Thank you
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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