Lindsey Graham joins a list of celebrities and officials who also suffered an aortic dissection death, including John Ritter and Alan Thicke.
Heart condition tied to Lindsey Graham's death can strike without warning — what to knowMan turns tragic loss of best friend to suicide into urgent outreach to lonely strangersLast American to use an iron lung dies at 78 years old after childhood polio diagnosisSimple sitting change linked to lower risk of cancer death, study findsCoffee may have powerful effect on liver health, major study suggestsEating common dairy food every day may slow biological aging, study suggestsKatie Couric couldn't remember the year or the president during frightening brain episodeDr Oz warns Medicare scammers are stealing billions — and your personal information could be nextDr Drew argues panic over Cyclosporiasis outbreak is unnecessary, says illness is ‘easily’ treatable‘Fraud is very much real’: Nick Shirley on exposing alleged fraud in NYC‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ ranks best and worst drinks to stay hydratedVicious stomach bug spreads across USPreliminary reports reveal South Carolina Sen.
Lindsey Graham died at 71 from an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, breaks down the fatal condition and the emergency response timeline at Graham's home.
Additionally, Dr. Siegel warns about a spike in Cyclosporiasis cases across 31 states, offering crucial safety tips for prevention. The cause of death was identified as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement released by Graham's office on Sunday, citing preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
"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," added the doctor, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly. Sen.
Lindsey Graham's cause of death was ruled an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement released by Graham's office on Sunday. Actor John Ritter, best known for his role in the hit sitcom"Three’s Company," died from an aortic dissection on Sept. 11, 2003. According to The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, the actor was taken to the hospital after experiencing symptoms later identified as a type A aortic dissection.
The nonprofit, founded in his honor, later said Graham's death has brought"needed attention" to the condition. At the time of his death, Ritter was filming the sitcom"8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter," co-starring Kaley Cuoco.
MEDICAL EXAMINER RELEASES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH AS DEATH CERTIFICATE REMAINS PENDING In a press release, The John Ritter Foundation – a nonprofit founded in his honor to fund research and raise awareness for the condition – extended its condolences to Graham’s family.
"Deaths due to aortic dissections are preventable if individuals at risk are identified and properly treated. " "These deaths underscore that aortic dissections are not a rare cause of death," Meredith Ford O'Neal, CEO of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, shared with Fox News Digital.
"Deaths due to aortic dissections are preventable if individuals at risk are identified and "We hope this moment encourages people to learn the warning signs of aortic dissection, which includes an increased risk for family members of individuals who have had an aortic dissection. "Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif. , died on Jan. 6, 2026, at age 65 from complications of an aortic dissection, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.
Cardiomegaly was listed as another significant condition, and his death was ruled natural. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif. , died on Jan. 6, 2026, at age 65 from complications of an aortic dissection.
A month later, the Butte County Sheriff's Office confirmed to People that his cause of death was complications of an aortic dissection. Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, was also listed as a significant condition. The Los Angeles County coroner later determined that Thicke died from a ruptured aorta caused by a type A aortic dissection, according to ABC News.
YOUR RESTING HEART RATE COULD REVEAL MORE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, DOCTORS SAY "I am sharing with you my expert thoughts based on limited information about Mr. Thicke’s case, but in light of an extensive career of treating hundreds of patients with aortic dissections, I can connect the dots in Mr. Thicke’s case from patterns that have emerged from treating similar patients with aortic dissections," he said. Alan Thicke, pictured with son Robin Thicke in 2013, reportedly experienced chest pain while playing hockey with his son and was taken to the hospital before his death.
Chest pain is often the first sign of a sudden tear or rip in the aorta, which can develop"within a few heartbeats," according to Wheatley.
"The pain associated with an aortic dissection is extreme," he said. "My patients describe it as so intense and sudden that it drops them to their knees. They literally fall to the ground and feel an intense tearing or ripping in theirDr. Neel Mansukhani, a vascular surgeon at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, shared why this condition can become life-threatening so quickly.that comes off of the heart, and it runs like a pipe through your body," he told Fox News Digital.
"Smaller blood vessels branch off to go to all your internal organs, arms, legs and brain. " "The aorta itself has three layers," the surgeon went on. "A tear in the lining of the aorta causes those layers to separate. It’s similar to paint peeling off a wall.
And that brings a lot of consequences depending on where the tear is.
" "The aorta is the main blood vessel that comes off of the heart, and it runs like a pipe through your body," a doctor told Fox News Digital. "Smaller blood vessels branch off to go to all your internal organs, arms, legs and brain.
"An enlarged aorta or damage to the vessel wall from cardiovascular disease can increase the likelihood of an aortic dissection, although age and"As we get older, blood vessels can weaken, and over time the constant pressure of blood flow can make the wall of the aorta more vulnerable to a dissection," he shared. "It’s an emergency that usually needs surgery within 24 hours if a patient can tolerate that," he said.
"A type B dissection is located further down from the heart. It can also be life-threatening, but does not usually need immediate surgery. "
Please follow us on Google to support usLindsey Graham Heart Health Illness Lifestyle
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Reverend Franklin Graham Honors Sen. Lindsey Graham's Life and ServiceReverend Franklin Graham has honored the life and service of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who passed away at the age of 71 due to a brief and sudden illness. Graham served in the U.S. Senate for over two decades and was a strong fighter for his state of South Carolina and his country.
Read more »
Trump says Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, should be appointed to his seatPresident Donald Trump said Monday he recommended to South Carolina’s governor that Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, be appointed to serve in the late lawmaker’s seat after he suddenly died over the weekend.
Read more »
Who is Darline Graham Nordone, the choice to fill Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat?After the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina's governor has named Darline Graham Nordone to temporarily fill his Senate seat.
Read more »
Darline Graham Nordone, sister of Lindsey Graham, chosen to fulfill remainder of his US Senate termLindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, has been named as her late brother's temporary replacement in the U.S. Senate after his unexpected death over the weekend.
Read more »