Several outlets discuss aortic dissection—an emergency in which the inner layer of the aorta tears and blood flows between the layers of the vessel—after the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Articles explain that symptoms typically begin suddenly and can mimic other serious conditions, including heart attack. Common warning signs include severe chest or back pain, often described as intense and sudden, and may be accompanied by other symptoms depending on where the dissection occurs and whether blood flow to other organs is affected. Sources also emphasize that aortic dissections are time-sensitive and require urgent medical evaluation because complications can develop quickly. Health coverage notes that the aorta’s size, underlying conditions, and risk factors can influence likelihood, and that diagnosis is usually made through imaging tests in a hospital setting. The overall message across sources is that sudden, severe chest or back pain should be treated as an emergency and prompt immediate care.