New details surrounding Sen.Lindsey Graham's sudden death have drawn attention to a cardiovascular emergency that can become fatal within minutes.On Sunday, a statement released by Graham's office cited preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, identifying the cause of death as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.Authorities said Graham, 71, was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m.
Saturday.An autopsy was completed Sunday.MEDICAL EXAMINER RELEASES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH AS DEATH CERTIFICATE REMAINS PENDING"The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death," the statement said.Fox News Digital reached out to Graham's office requesting comment.New details surrounding Sen.
Lindsey Graham's sudden death have drawn new attention to a cardiovascular emergency that can become fatal within minutes.(Getty Images)An aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency in which a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta — the body's largest artery, according to Mayo Clinic.Blood rushes through the tear and causes the layers of the aortic wall to separate, which can disrupt blood flow to vital organs or lead to a fatal rupture if not treated immediately.YOUR RESTING HEART RATE COULD REVEAL MORE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, DOCTORS SAY"It occurs when the layers of the aorta come apart and the inner one tears," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr.
Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham, told Fox News Digital."It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize," he added, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly.A spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare, ...