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AAA with bulimia

I have suffered on and off with bulimia for 20-21 years. I have been told that I have an aortic dilation of 4.2 and I also have a bicuspid aortic valve. Is there a chance that my bulimic tendencies have made the aneurysm worse than it should be? Any knowledge is appreciated!
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Avatar universal
Hello, it's been awhile since your question but I thought I'd try to reply anyway. I hope you are doing well and that your aortic dilation is being managed appropriately. I've been looking into this issue since I also have a long history of eating disorders plus I suffer from healthy anxiety--I pretty much worry all the time that I have one illness or another caused by my ed history.  While on the surface it might seem the 'trauma' caused by bulimia could lead to aa, the only research I have seen indicates that bulimic episodes may cause immediate trauma to the stomach (ie, abdominal compratment syndrome) but there is no scientific evidence I can find of a specific relationship between eating disorders and aortic aneurysms--whereas smoking, being male, having a first degree relative with aa, and being over 60 seem to be the main risk factors. I doubt you are over 60 or a man, but perhaps you have one or more of the other risk factors, or the bicuspid valve (which I think is hereditary?) has played a role. Regardless, I can't find anywhere in the medical literature to indicate an ed could cause or contribute to an aaa, and the last thing you need is to be feeling guilty or responsible for having a condition that appears to be down largely to chance. If I understand correctly, your aortic dilation is quite small--while it must be stressful, hopefully your doctors are managing your condition well so you can be free to enjoy life.
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370181 tn?1595629445
Your question needs to be addressed by a doctor who can assess your risks.
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