Notable figures who died from the same heart condition linked to Lindsey Graham's death

Sen. Lindsey Graham's abrupt decease has renewed attraction connected a uncommon but often deadly cardiovascular exigency known arsenic aortic dissection.

The origin of decease was identified arsenic an aortic dissection owed to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a connection released by Graham's bureau connected Sunday, citing preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

"It occurs erstwhile the layers of the aorta (the body's largest artery) travel isolated and the interior 1 tears," Fox News elder aesculapian expert Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not dainty Graham, told Fox News Digital.

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"It tin travel connected successful minutes oregon days and whitethorn beryllium hard to recognize," added the doctor, noting that portion dissections tin germinate implicit time, symptoms often look suddenly.

Sen. Lindsey Graham's origin of decease was ruled an aortic dissection owed to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a connection released by Graham's bureau connected Sunday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Graham, 71, is not the lone notable fig to person died from an aortic dissection. Below are 3 different celebrities and nationalist officials whose deaths were linked to the aforesaid life-threatening condition.

1. John Ritter

Actor John Ritter, champion known for his relation successful the deed sitcom "Three’s Company," died from an aortic dissection connected Sept. 11, 2003.

According to The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, the histrion was taken to the infirmary aft experiencing symptoms aboriginal identified arsenic a benignant A aortic dissection. The nonprofit, founded successful his honor, aboriginal said Graham's decease has brought "needed attention" to the condition.

John Ritter is seen astatine CBS TV City connected Jan. 5, 1978, successful Los Angeles, California. (Tom Wargacki/WireImage)

Type A dissections impact the ascending (upper) aorta adjacent the heart, which typically require exigency surgery.

At the clip of his death, Ritter was filming the sitcom "8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter," co-starring Kaley Cuoco.

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The histrion was initially treated for a presumed bosom attack, but passed distant that nighttime arsenic his information worsened.

In a property release, The John Ritter Foundation (JRF) – a nonprofit founded successful his grant to money probe and rise consciousness for the information – extended its condolences to Graham’s family.

"Deaths owed to aortic dissections are preventable if individuals astatine hazard are identified and decently treated."

"These deaths underscore that aortic dissections are not a uncommon origin of death," Meredith Ford O'Neal, CEO of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, shared with Fox News Digital. "Deaths owed to aortic dissections are preventable if individuals astatine hazard are identified and decently treated."

"We anticipation this infinitesimal encourages radical to larn the informing signs of aortic dissection, which includes an accrued hazard for household members of individuals who person had an aortic dissection."

2. Rep. Doug LaMalfa

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died connected Jan. 6, 2026, astatine property 65 from complications of an aortic dissection, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) was listed arsenic different important condition, and his decease was ruled natural.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died connected Jan. 6, 2026, astatine property 65 from complications of an aortic dissection. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

LaMalfa, who represented California’s First Congressional District, was taken into exigency country but passed distant during the procedure, according to a connection from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

A period later, the Butte County Sheriff's Office confirmed to People that his origin of decease was complications of an aortic dissection. Cardiomegaly, oregon an enlarged heart, was besides listed arsenic a important condition.

3. Alan Thicke

"Growing Pains" histrion Alan Thicke died from an aortic dissection connected Dec. 13, 2016, astatine the property of 69. (Brian To/FilmMagic)

"Growing Pains" histrion Alan Thicke died from an aortic dissection connected Dec. 13, 2016, astatine the property of 69.

Thicke reportedly experienced thorax symptom portion playing hockey with his lad and was taken to the hospital.

The Los Angeles County coroner aboriginal determined that Thicke died from a ruptured aorta caused by a benignant A aortic dissection, according to ABC News.

Raising awareness

In a 2016 HCA Healthcare article, Nashville-based bosom surgeon Dr. Grayson Wheatley reflected connected Thicke’s "unfortunate" case.

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"I americium sharing with you my adept thoughts based connected constricted accusation astir Mr. Thicke’s case, but successful airy of an extended vocation of treating hundreds of patients with aortic dissections, I tin link the dots successful Mr. Thicke’s lawsuit from patterns that person emerged from treating akin patients with aortic dissections," helium said.

Alan Thicke, pictured with lad Robin Thicke successful 2013, reportedly experienced thorax symptom portion playing hockey with his lad and was taken to the infirmary earlier his death. (Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images)

Chest symptom is often the archetypal motion of a abrupt teardrop oregon rip successful the aorta, which tin make "within a fewer heartbeats," according to Wheatley.

"The symptom associated with an aortic dissection is extreme," helium said. "My patients picture it arsenic truthful aggravated and abrupt that it drops them to their knees. They virtually autumn to the crushed and consciousness an aggravated tearing oregon ripping successful their mid-upper backmost and/or chest."

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Once the dissection occurs, it becomes a "race against time" arsenic the information worsens, the doc said.

Dr. Neel Mansukhani, a vascular surgeon astatine Northwestern Medicine successful Chicago, shared wherefore this information tin go life-threatening truthful quickly.

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"The aorta is the main humor vas that comes disconnected of the heart, and it runs similar a tube done your body," helium told Fox News Digital. "Smaller humor vessels subdivision disconnected to spell to each your interior organs, arms, legs and brain."

"The aorta itself has 3 layers," the surgeon went on. "A teardrop successful the lining of the aorta causes those layers to separate. It’s akin to overgarment peeling disconnected a wall. And that brings a batch of consequences depending connected wherever the teardrop is."

"The aorta is the main humor vas that comes disconnected of the heart, and it runs similar a tube done your body," a doc told Fox News Digital. "Smaller humor vessels subdivision disconnected to spell to each your interior organs, arms, legs and brain." (iStock)

An enlarged aorta oregon harm to the vas partition from cardiovascular illness tin summation the likelihood of an aortic dissection, though property and precocious humor unit stay the starring hazard factors, Mansukhani said.

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"As we get older, humor vessels tin weaken, and implicit clip the changeless unit of humor travel tin marque the partition of the aorta much susceptible to a dissection," helium shared.

Type A dissections are "immediately life-threatening," arsenic they are "right by the heart," according to the doctor.

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"It’s an exigency that usually needs country wrong 24 hours if a diligent tin tolerate that," helium said. "A benignant B dissection is located further down from the heart. It tin besides beryllium life-threatening, but does not usually request contiguous surgery."

Although an aortic dissection often strikes without warning, maintaining cardiovascular wellness and monitoring conditions specified arsenic precocious humor unit tin assistance little the risk, Mansukhani advised.