Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death has renewed attention on a rare but often deadly cardiovascular emergency known as aortic dissection.
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 (the body’s largest artery) come apart and the inner one tears,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham, told Fox News Digital.
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“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.
Graham, 71, is not the only notable figure to have died from an . Below are three other celebrities and public officials whose deaths were linked to the same life-threatening condition.
Actor John Ritter, best known for his role in the hit sitcom “Threes 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.
Type A dissections involve the ascending (upper) aorta near the heart, which typically .
At the time of his death, Ritter was filming the sitcom “8 Simple Rulesâ¦for Dating My Teenage Daughter,” co-starring Kaley Cuoco.
The actor was initially treated for a presumed heart attack, but passed away that night as his condition worsened.
In a press release, The John Ritter Foundation (JRF) â a nonprofit founded in his honor to fund research and raise awareness for the condition â extended its condolences to Grahams family.
“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 (an enlarged heart) was listed as another significant condition, and his death was ruled natural.
LaMalfa, who represented Californias First Congressional District, was taken into emergency surgery but passed away during the procedure, according to a statement from the Butte County Sheriffs Office.
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.
“Growing Pains” actor Alan Thicke died from an aortic dissection on Dec. 13, 2016, at the age of 69.
Thicke reportedly experienced while playing hockey with his son and was taken to the hospital.
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.
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