New details about the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham have drawn attention to a rare but deadly heart emergency that can claim a life within minutes.

The District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released preliminary findings on Sunday, identifying the cause of death as an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Graham, 71, was taken to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m. on Saturday, according to authorities. His autopsy was completed the following day.

A statement from the medical examiner’s office said the death certificate will remain pending until all toxicological and microscopic tests are finalized. Once complete, the certificate will be updated to include the confirmed cause and classification of death.

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Fox News Digital contacted Graham’s office for comment following the release of the findings.

Medical experts say an aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency in which a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart throughout the body.

“This occurs when the layers of the aorta come apart and the inner one tears,” said Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham.

He explained that once the inner layer tears, blood rushes through the opening and separates the wall’s layers, potentially cutting off circulation to vital organs or causing the aorta to rupture.

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“It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize,” Siegel added, noting that while dissections can develop over time, symptoms usually appear suddenly.

Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician in South Carolina, compared the aorta’s structure to a hose with multiple layers. “If the layers separate, the water can no longer pass down the regular opening in the tube,” he said. “Often, this starts as a very small tear that keeps progressing because of the water pressure.”

He explained that when this occurs in the body, “the small tear in the wall of the aorta continues to progress, usually from severely elevated blood pressure.” As the tear extends, circulation to major organs can stop.

“This causes the organs that need that blood to die from lack of oxygen,” Perry said. “The only way to survive such a diagnosis is very early identification and strict blood pressure control with emergent operative management.”

The Cleveland Clinic estimates that aortic dissection affects between three and four people per 100,000 each year.

In Graham’s case, the medical examiner’s report cited arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition often linked to atherosclerosis, where plaque builds up inside the arteries, hardening and narrowing them. Over time, this process can weaken the aortic wall, raising the likelihood of a tear.

Symptoms of an aortic dissection can resemble those of a heart attack or stroke, experts said. Anyone noticing the warning signs should seek emergency care immediately, according to Siegel and other physicians.

Perry said emergency doctors are trained to suspect a dissection when patients describe “tearing” chest pain and have high blood pressure — “a kidney stone of the chest,” as he put it, noting the severe discomfort patients experience.

Early diagnosis and treatment greatly improve survival chances for those who experience a dissection. Tests such as CT scans, echocardiograms, MRI angiography, or chest X-rays are used to identify the condition, according to Mayo Clinic.

Treatment depends on the tear’s location. Type A dissections affect the ascending aorta near the heart and typically require immediate surgery. Type B dissections, lower down the aorta, can often be managed with medications to lower blood pressure and heart rate, though some may also require surgery or a stent.

According to the American Heart Association, an untreated acute aortic dissection is among the deadliest cardiac emergencies. “This condition has a high mortality rate,” Siegel said.

For untreated Type A dissections, the risk of death rises by about 1% to 2% for every hour without treatment after symptoms begin. More than half of these patients die within one month without intervention.

While not all dissections can be prevented, Siegel said people can lower their risk by keeping blood pressure controlled, reducing cholesterol, and seeking regular medical care.

He also advised smokers to quit to cut their risk, adding that maintaining a healthy weight and following treatment plans for existing heart or vascular conditions can make a difference.

Those with a family history of aortic disease or inherited connective tissue disorders should discuss possible screening options with their healthcare provider, experts say.