A diagnosis of an enlarged aorta can be a scary thing, but it doesn’t mean that you have to put your life – or your love of skiing – on hold. Moderate exercise can be beneficial as long as you are under a doctor’s care and you follow her instructions to the letter. Gentle cross-country skiing is safest, but a trip down the slopes should cause you no harm as long you’re careful not to strain or exert yourself too much.
Enlarged Aorta Facts
Your aorta is a large, hollow tube made of three layers: a thin inner layer, a thick, stretchy middle layer called the media and another thin layer on the outside called the adventitia. This layered tube comes up from your heart and then curves back down to run through your diaphragm and into your abdomen where it splits into two branches that reach down into your legs. When any part of this tube becomes weakened, it can bulge outward. This is called an enlarged aorta, or aortic aneurysm. If left untreated, the aneurysm can burst, which can be fatal.
Causes and Diagnosis
Many things can cause an enlarged aorta. You can be born with a congenital defect such as Marfan’s disease, Turner’s disease or with abnormalities to your aortal layers. It can also be caused by an impact injury from a car accident or a hard collision while playing a contact sport. Smoking, being exposed to second-hand smoke and having high blood pressure can also contribute to an enlarged aorta. Enlarged aortas are usually discovered during a routine medical examination, which is why it is important to see your doctor before trying a new sport like skiing, especially if you smoke, are overweight or have high blood pressure.
Treatments
The kind of treatment you receive depends on the type and cause of your enlarged aorta. Those at risk because of hypertension or injury should consult with their physician before attempting any sort of exercise because each individual case is different. People born with an enlarged aorta are often encouraged to engage in moderate physical exercise, according to the American Heart Association. Aerobic activities – including cross-country skiing – are beneficial and can be safe if done with care.
Enlarged Aorta and Skiing
The type of strenuous action that calls for you to strain or bear down with a closed throat, such as lifting heavy weights, doing chin-ups, pull-ups or sit-ups, are absolutely to be avoided. Skiing that calls for you to strain in this way is also contraindicated, so plan your ski route with your doctor’s advice and ask for guidelines as to checking your heart rate during and after exertion.
