Although the risk of rupture makes having a AAA very worrying for you, we know that it is very much a manageable condition. The first thing to realize is that AAA’s expand quite slowly and predictably. They are also fairly easily to track (in terms of size and shape) with ultrasounds done regularly over time (once or twice yearly). In the meantime, maintaining healthy living is your best action. Smoking is not only a cause of AAA, but it is also a high risk factor for causing a ruptured AAA; so smoking cessation is our first goal in AAA patients who smoke. Also, keeping your blood pressure in a good range, and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels will benefit you.
There are not many things to avoid, even if you have a AAA. Excessive strenuous lifting (say, lifting greater than 30 pounds repeatedly) may elevate your blood pressure and therefore should be avoided. However other forms of exercise are still beneficial.