WASHINGTON, D.C. – A preliminary report from the D.C. Medical Examiner’s Office shows Lindsey Graham died from an aortic dissection. Doctors say an aortic dissection happens when the inner layer of the aorta walls tears and causes internal bleeding. A cardiologist with Prisma Health in Columb ia, SC explains more on the condition. Prisma Health cardiologist Dr. Chetah Patel says, “It’s rare but it’s certainly a medical emergency when it happens and it can affect multiple different organs in the body because all the blood vessels that supply blood flow to every organ come off the aorta so it can affect the heart itself, it can affect the brain, it can affect the gut, it can affect the kidneys, it can affect everything.” Doctors say aortic dissection is very rare and affects 30 out of every one million people each year. ...read more read less