The aortic tear that likely caused the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham is a medical emergency that can rapidly kill. The aorta is our largest artery, carrying oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body as other arteries branch off from it.
What is an Aortic Dissection?
An aortic dissection happens when a tear in its inner lining lets blood rapidly leak between its other layers, according to the American Medical Association. That reduces blood flow to vital organs, and sometimes can lead to a rupture that pours blood into surrounding tissues.
Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol that in turn stiffens arteries — called atherosclerosis — and smoking. It’s more common in older people but also can be caused by certain genetic conditions in younger people.
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms tend to be sudden, with severe stabbing-like pain, often in the chest or back but sometimes in the neck, jaw or abdomen depending on where in the aorta the tear happened. Fast treatment improves the chances of survival. Depending on where the tear occurred and its extent, surgeons may try to repair it or patch the torn section of the aorta.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
