Aortic dissection is a life-threatening emergency in which a tear forms inside the aorta. Because its symptoms often resemble a heart attack, the condition can be misdiagnosed, delaying surgery and exposing patients to medications that may worsen internal bleeding.
Using the deaths of John Ritter and Sen. Lindsey Graham as examples, this white paper examines inherited and age-related risks while emphasizing proactive screening. Family-history reviews, blood-pressure control, genetic evaluation, and timely aortic imaging can help identify the disease before it becomes fatal.
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