"...Elefteriades and his colleagues identified five people who suffered acute dissection of the aorta during high-intensity weight training or other strenuous exercise.[...] All were found to have an enlarged aorta, but not at a level expected to present a high risk of dissection, Elefteriades says. Three patients who had surgical repair survived; the other two died before surgery could be attempted. [...] Until more research is done, what should weight lifters who may be at risk do? Avoid weight training so strenuous that your blood pressure rises excessively, Elefteriades says. Ed. Note: This research was published in the Dec 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. If anyone can find a copy of this available online, we'd appreciate it. Yet another reason to avoid weightlifting.