Heart condition suspected in Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death is rare and can happen without warning

NBC News Clone summarizes the latest on: Lindsey Graham Death Sudden Heart Aortic Dissection Rcna385938 - Health and Medicine | NBC News Clone. This article is rewritten and presented in a simplified tone for a better reader experience.

Aortic dissection can cause severe internal bleeding and, ultimately, organ failure.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died Saturday night from aortic dissection, a tear in the main artery that carries blood to the heart.Kent Nishimura / Getty Images file

July 12, 2026, 1:27 PM EDT / Updated July 12, 2026, 8:24 PM EDT

By Akshay Syal, M.D.

The tear in the aorta that doctors preliminarily believe led to the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., late Saturday is an immediately life-threatening emergency that may cause symptoms similar to those of a heart attack.

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