Lindsey Graham’s Fatal Aortic Dissection Raises Urgent Questions About This Silent Killer

Following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham from an aortic dissection, many are wondering what causes the life-threatening condition and how to recognize the symptoms to get medical help fast.

What’s an Aortic Dissection?

The aorta is the body’s largest blood vessel, carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to other organs. An aortic dissection, or aortic tear, happens when a rip develops in the inside wall of the vessel.

This allows blood to flow through the artery wall’s tissue layers, which can cause it to rupture. Nearly 50 percent of patients don’t survive, and the risk of death increases fast as time passes.

Symptoms to Look Out For

Symptoms happen very quickly. While they can mimic a standard heart attack, treating an aortic dissection is very different. Key signs include:

• Severe pain: A sudden severe pain that feels like ripping or tearing. It usually starts in the chest and quickly moves to the back between the shoulder blades, or down into the abdomen.
• Respiratory and skin changes: Sudden shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, or bluish skin.
• Neurological signs: Fainting, severe dizziness, or sudden stroke-like symptoms, such as trouble speaking or a loss of vision.

When to Get Medical Attention

An aortic dissection is a major medical emergency that can’t wait. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call 911 immediately.

Image credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons