Heart condition tied to Lindsey Grahams death can strike without warning: experts
New details surrounding Sen.Lindsey Graham’s sudden death have drawn attention to a cardiovascular emergency that can become fatal within minutes.A statement released by Graham’s office on Sunday 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 on Sunday.“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.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.“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.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.“It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize,” added Siegel, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly.Dr.Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician based in South Carolina, said the best way to visualize the condition is to think of the aorta as a hose.“The wall of the hose has multiple layers to it, and if the layers separate, the water can no longer pass down the regular opening in the tube,” Perry, who also was not involved in Graham’s care, told Fox News Digital.
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