Aortic dissection is a life-threatening artery tear that can cause sudden death. Cardiologists explain its causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment options
Preliminary findings from the medical examiner point to an aortic dissection, a lethal condition that led to the sudden passing of US Senator Lindsey Graham recently, which medical professionals frequently describe as both sudden and silent. To understand how an individual can appear healthy one moment and succumb to a cardiovascular catastrophe the next, it is essential to explore what occurs inside the body during an aortic tear.
As Dr Nazir Juvale, a consultant cardiologist at Saifee Hospital in Mumbai, explains, "An aortic tear, also known as an aortic dissection is a very serious condition that happens when the aorta, which is the biggest artery in the body and carries blood from the heart gets a tear in it." When this structural failure occurs, the body's primary highway for oxygenated blood becomes a source of rapid, internal destruction.
What happens during an aortic dissection
The aorta is tasked with routing blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Its walls are composed of tight layers of tissue designed to withstand intense pressure. An aortic dissection occurs when the integrity of these layers is breached.
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