What is an aortic dissection? Explaining heart condition tied to Lindsey Graham’s death

Digital Editor

WASHINGTON —

Sen. Lindsey Graham died after a tear in his aorta, according to a preliminary medical examiner finding shared by his office.

Graham, a prominent South Carolina Republican and former Air Force lawyer who served in Congress for more than three decades, had turned 71 years old just two days before dying on Saturday night.

His office had originally said he had suffered from a “brief and sudden illness.”

The tear in the inner wall of the aorta, called an aortic dissection, was related to the hardening of Graham’s arteries.

An official cause of death will be disclosed after toxicological and microscopic testing.

What is an aortic dissection?

Aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery.

Blood rushes through the tear, causing the layers of the artery wall to separate. This can reduce or block blood flow to vital organs or cause the aorta to rupture, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Without immediate diagnosis and treatment, an aortic dissection can quickly become fatal.

Aortic dissection is most common in men in their 60s and 70s.

What are the symptoms?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the hallmark of an aortic dissection is its sudden onset.

The condition can occur at any time, though it is often triggered by a sudden spike in blood pressure during heavy exertion. It can also happen while a person is resting or even sleeping, and there are typically no warning signs before it begins.

The Cleveland Clinic says an aortic dissection can mimic a heart attack or other heart conditions. Symptoms may include:

• Sudden, severe chest or upper back pain
• Severe stomach pain.
• Fainting or losing consciousness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Stroke-like symptoms, such as trouble speaking, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body.
• Leg pain or difficulty walking.