u/fastingtrader

Original diagnosis on CT scan showed mildly dilated at 4.1cm. 75 days later, echo measured 3.7cm. Is this typical measurement and modality variance?

Does taking too much BP medicine (Losartan) cause an elevated heart rate? I am 60 days into managing BP and regularly seeing exceptional numbers. What I have noticede is that when my BP is low during the day, my heart rate seems to be high when I am just sitting there. Right now my BP is 100/70 and HR is 85. My resting heart rate is typically 62 according to apple watch.

Can anyone help me with definitive information on the differences in measurement interpretation between the Echo and CT scan?

Had a CT scan done for a baseline calcium score. The results came back with incidental findings of enlarged/ dilated physiology.

Left atrial is at 4.9cm on CT scan and 3.7cm on Echo.

Ascending aorta is as 4.1cm on CT scan and 3.7cm on Echo.

The CT was done 75 days before the Echo.

1 Are there different measurement ranges for different modalities? The information online says that >4.0cm on the aorta is dilated but does not clearly say whether this is CT vs. Echo.

AORTA measurement - my understanding is the CT provides larger measurements on the aorta due to outer to outer vs inner to inner methodology and this is typically 2mm. The other 2mm could be due to the less precise nature of the Echo. However, lots of lifestyle changes that reduce blood pressure and hemodynamics (reduce moderate to high intensity cardio which stupid and was 6+ hours per week)

LEFT ATRIAL measurement - is there a measurement difference between CT and Echo? Volume is more important and when indexed is 26.5 which is right in the middle of normal and not enlarged.

2. Been diagnosed with dilated aorta and annual monitoring is required as well as suggestions of what not to do, as well as the enlarged left atrial. But if I had been measured ONLY on the echo the same measures would be “normal” or “upper normal”.

Any help in understanding is appreciated.

I have isolated diastolic high blood pressure. Driven from use of nicotine, athletics, stress and sleep. But I really think nicotine is the prevalent cause even though use was sporadic. I consumed 1 can of zyn per week but mainly consumed with 10 pouches in one day and then other 5 over the course of the week. I do everything else such as diet, exercise, etc very well and would score 110/75 at doctor appointments since I didn’t have any nicotine exposure that day. Classic hidden hypertension.

I am off zyn cold turkey and it was not that hard in light of the negative health consequences for me. Others may have a different view.

Here are the questions I have:

How long does it take for bp to stabilize and optimize?

What should I be doing cardio wise to get there fast and efficient? I am doing 45 to 60 minutes light zone 2 or 120bpm on average. I do this 5-7 times per week.

Are there leading metrics in the Apple Watch that can help me feel confident I am headed in the right direction? Resting hr is about 60 (this is up from an average 6 months rolling of 57 and before stopping nicotine as I have reduced training intensity) hrv is 30 which has not changed.

I am 8 weeks off nicotine and 6 weeks into losartan. My bp is managed to 110/75 on this medicine but I still have low and high moments of 95/65 and then 110/85. I know 85 is not that bad, but I really want to be consistently below 80 and willing to work hard to get there. Any advice is appreciated.

Has anyone tried to treat themselves with stem cells to reverse dilation? Looking for stories of trying, outcomes and/ or any insights about research and/or expert recommendations.

What about peptides like ss-31?