Ultrarunner
Well-known member
Having been recently diagnosed with an aneurism of the ascending aorta, I thought it might be a good idea to find a forum where one could exchange information and experience about this condition. I’ve been having a hard time getting advice from the doctors I’ve seen.
I was diagnosed with BAV in my 30’s after my GP detected a murmur. I had a follow up echocardiogram done about every five years. At age 40 I took up running and ran lots of marathons and ultra marathons. As long as I could do a 40 minute 10k race in my 50’s I didn’t really think of BAV as a problem. However, in the last few years I’ve been doing some very challenging trail races and decided that maybe I should see a cardiologist. I asked for a referral to a sports cardiologist and a year later met with him (this is Canada-the medical system requires patience!). It turns out that my echo results from last year had shown a dilated ascending aorta and my GP hadn’t noticed. (I know now to always get a copy of the results!). Another echo was ordered, as well as a CT scan that confirmed an aortic diameter of 48mm. I obtained the results of my previous echo’s and discovered it was 40mm seven years ago. So a growth rate of about 1 mm per year.
With current standards recommending aorta replacement at 55mm (without family history of dissection), I assume life goes on as before. I was told not to lift weights, do pushups etc. but told I could keep on running. I don’t want to give that up because I like having a BP of 100 over 60 and a resting heart rate of less than 40. The question is, what kind of running is safe? My cardiologist couldn’t say. These past two years, I’ve done about 20 races and over 100 training runs where my heart rate would be in the 170’s or higher. During my stress test, my systolic pressure was 160 when my heart rate was 160. So I assume my systolic pressure would be somewhat higher than that during a race, especially when it involves a few thousand feet of elevation gain.
So my question is: Has anyone been given an upper limit of blood pressure that might cause dissection? Or been told whether running fast is ok?
I was diagnosed with BAV in my 30’s after my GP detected a murmur. I had a follow up echocardiogram done about every five years. At age 40 I took up running and ran lots of marathons and ultra marathons. As long as I could do a 40 minute 10k race in my 50’s I didn’t really think of BAV as a problem. However, in the last few years I’ve been doing some very challenging trail races and decided that maybe I should see a cardiologist. I asked for a referral to a sports cardiologist and a year later met with him (this is Canada-the medical system requires patience!). It turns out that my echo results from last year had shown a dilated ascending aorta and my GP hadn’t noticed. (I know now to always get a copy of the results!). Another echo was ordered, as well as a CT scan that confirmed an aortic diameter of 48mm. I obtained the results of my previous echo’s and discovered it was 40mm seven years ago. So a growth rate of about 1 mm per year.
With current standards recommending aorta replacement at 55mm (without family history of dissection), I assume life goes on as before. I was told not to lift weights, do pushups etc. but told I could keep on running. I don’t want to give that up because I like having a BP of 100 over 60 and a resting heart rate of less than 40. The question is, what kind of running is safe? My cardiologist couldn’t say. These past two years, I’ve done about 20 races and over 100 training runs where my heart rate would be in the 170’s or higher. During my stress test, my systolic pressure was 160 when my heart rate was 160. So I assume my systolic pressure would be somewhat higher than that during a race, especially when it involves a few thousand feet of elevation gain.
So my question is: Has anyone been given an upper limit of blood pressure that might cause dissection? Or been told whether running fast is ok?
