Living with Aortic Dissection. How to live with Aortic Dissection?

Can you be happy living with Aortic Dissection? What do you have to do to be happy with Aortic Dissection? Living with Aortic Dissection can be difficult, but you have to fight to try to be happy. Have a look at things that other people have done to be happy with Aortic Dissection


Living with Aortic Dissection


An aortic dissection is a serious condition where the inner layer of the aorta, the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, tears. This can lead to life-threatening complications if not managed properly. Living with aortic dissection requires careful attention to your health, lifestyle modifications, and regular medical follow-ups. Here are some important aspects to consider:



1. Medical Management


Proper medical management is crucial for individuals living with aortic dissection. It is essential to follow your healthcare provider's recommendations and take prescribed medications regularly. These may include:



  • Blood Pressure Control: Maintaining optimal blood pressure is vital to prevent further damage to the aorta. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help control your blood pressure.

  • Pain Management: Aortic dissection can cause severe chest or back pain. Your healthcare provider may prescribe pain medications to help alleviate discomfort.

  • Beta-Blockers: These medications can help reduce the force of your heartbeat, lowering the stress on the aorta.

  • Anticoagulants: In some cases, blood thinners may be prescribed to prevent blood clots from forming.



2. Lifestyle Modifications


Adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of complications. Consider the following:



  • Quit Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of further damage to the blood vessels. Quitting smoking is essential for your overall cardiovascular health.

  • Healthy Diet: Consume a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit your intake of sodium, saturated fats, and cholesterol.

  • Regular Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity as recommended by your healthcare provider. Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, improves cardiovascular fitness, and reduces stress.

  • Stress Management: Practice stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy.

  • Limit Alcohol Intake: Excessive alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of complications. Drink in moderation or as advised by your doctor.



3. Regular Medical Follow-ups


Regular medical follow-ups are essential to monitor your condition and detect any potential complications. Your healthcare provider may recommend:



  • Imaging Tests: Periodic imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRIs, may be performed to assess the condition of your aorta and detect any changes.

  • Blood Tests: Regular blood tests can help monitor your overall health, including cholesterol levels and kidney function.

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG measures the electrical activity of your heart and can help identify any abnormalities.

  • Regular Blood Pressure Monitoring: Regularly check your blood pressure at home and report any significant changes to your healthcare provider.



4. Emotional Support


Living with aortic dissection can be emotionally challenging. It is important to seek emotional support from loved ones, friends, or support groups. Sharing your experiences and concerns with others who have gone through similar situations can provide comfort and valuable insights.



5. Emergency Preparedness


Since aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition, it is crucial to be prepared for emergencies. Ensure that your loved ones and close contacts are aware of your condition and know how to respond in case of an emergency. Keep a list of emergency contact numbers readily available and consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace.



Remember: The information provided here is for general guidance. It is important to consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice and recommendations based on your specific condition.


by Diseasemaps

Today Is A Good Day. This is a saying globally for people who survived acute AD. Hving survived acute AD, is also having survived a 6-12 hour long open heart surgery, where the brain is without bloodcirculation for a period of time, and the heart is disconnected from the main artery the aorta, while it is repaired. In a sence a person have died and returned again. The way to find happiness in the new life, is to accept the new normal that follows after such an surgery. Acceting that one was given life back, can give much happiness in a difficult situation.

3/29/17 by Timo Söderlund 6072

Be very cognizant of your blood pressure and diet.

7/12/17 by Errol 1650

Heute ist ein guter Tag! Denn ich habe überlebt! Es ist ein anderes Leben. Ich bin nicht mehr bei Tempo 200 km/h auf der Lebensautobahn unterwegs. Jetzt geht vieles langsamer, manches überhaupt nicht mehr - meine Perspektive hat sich verändert. Das Leben hat von Bedeutung zugenommen. Das Leben ist kostbar und schön, auch wenn es Tage gibt, an denen alles ganz schwer ist.

9/11/17 by Regina 802

Once the trauma of dissection and the initial confusion has settled, yes you can live a happy life. It will be different and you have to take each day with a positive outlook. If you are a patient or have a family member or friend with Aortic Dissection and are having difficulties in finding support there is a wonderful network of survivors you can find by searching on Facebook. Type in aortic dissection awareness September19 and you will find many survivors from all over the globe. You can send a private message to the global page asking for contacts within google your location and they will be only to pleased to put you in touch. TODAY IS A GOOD DAY. If you are looking for happy survivors within the UK you can find them at Aortic Dissection Awareness UK Diseasemaps.org is a wonderful way to find survivors globally and for many other conditions too

9/11/17 by Dan 1998

Living with AD is better then being dead to most people... either way You dont get a choice... LIGHT Lifting talk with your doctor what limitations would be permanent Cardio (bicycle Treadmill , Walking, elliptical , ever a stepper stay away from free weights and the kind of UGHHH strains, Realize your Not the same person things have changed walk run if your able (jog ) do the stairs rather then elevator Park ten places away from the door and Laugh AT the stupid lazy scammers who use Mom's handicap sticker and Literally Run in the store dont get mad at its not worth your trouble I always take my cart back inside the store little pride helps

9/22/17 by Jim 5641

Yes I think you can be happy. Happiness is a choice and I choose not to worry about a reoccurrence but more to being grateful for my life and what I have and making sure I don't waste it.. I want to keep loving my life.

9/23/17 by Christine 1400

Live as normal lifestyle as possible...educate yourself and be aware of your limitations

2/3/18 by Lindsay McKinney 2520

As normal as possible, To be happy with AD, just take control of your life, do what makes you happy and keep track of your blood preasure

2/10/18 by Marvinskan 1100

Live a normal healty life. No heavy lifting.

6/3/18 by Jeppe 2300

Control BP ,HEART Healthy diet, live as normal life as positive

6/6/18 by Karhleenmc 800

Enjoy life, go on holidays, go to theme parks, go sky diving or do whatever floats your boat. Life can be cut tragically short, so make best use of today!

9/23/18 by Stefan 2500

Regonise you new starting point is post op not your life pre op. It is an life changing condition that improves very slowly over long periods of time, but it does improve. Live with your new self not you old self. If your over 60 retire it will suit your new lifestyle. Manage what you do five hours of constantly of the couch/bed is a great effort now go recover. Be happy within your new self it will get better time is the greatest healer. Ask for help always. Your old life is far in the distance at the beginning of a dissection and most never get our old self back, cest la vie.

11/7/18 by Sean 900

Take care of yourself, be careful and enjoy life

3/12/19 by Bengt 2500

Living sucks. I wish I died on the opperating table.

5/13/19 by Chris 1600

You can't survive You can't survive being with this.

7/29/19 by MCSzombie 6220

I would just reassure them that they can have a long life ahead (as I have) and think about what they can do, not what they can’t. Family and friends are important support for the AD survivor.

10/9/19 by Sandy 2500

Try to relax and do not worry about your disease.

5/26/20 by Arne 2300

I started on COPD Herbal treatment from Ultimate Health Home, the treatment worked incredibly for my lungs condition. I used the herbal treatment for almost 4 months, it reversed my COPD. My severe shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness gradually disappeared. Reach Ultimate Health Home via their em ail at ultimatehealthhome@gmail.com . I can breath much better and It feels comfortable!

4/4/21 by Robert 9039

Keep your blood pressure down.Have a low salt low fat diet no caffine.

4/2/22 by Larry 2550

Top questions

What is the life expectancy of someone with Aortic Dissection?

Celebrities with Aortic Dissection

Is Aortic Dissection hereditary?

Is Aortic Dissection contagious?

Is there any natural treatment for Aortic Dissection?

View more questions of Aortic Dissection

World map of Aortic Dissection


Find people with Aortic Dissection through the map. Connect with them and share experiences. Join the Aortic Dissection community.

There are 607 people in the map. View Map of Aortic Dissection