The Effects of Exercise on Quality of Life and Fluid Dynamics in Patients With Aortic Dissection

Aerobic exercise and physical activity improve patient health in patients in a variety of aspects of life and disease. It also improves patients' mental well-being and quality of life. However, the safety of this physical activity and its potential benefits remain uncertain for patients after aortic dissection, a tear in the main blood vessel delivering blood to all of the body's organs. The goal of this study is to facilitate the translation of pre-clinical findings by the Principal Investigator and published literature that demonstrates light to moderate exercise is safe and beneficial in patients with thoracic aortic dissection. This will be accomplished by using both imaging-based analyses of aortic wall responses to a 3- month exercise program, patient surveys of quality of life metrics, functional fitness assessments, and clinical outcomes.