Dr. Mehmet Oz who currently serves as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, recently gave his thoughts on Lindsey Graham’s death.
Dr. Oz who is a former cardiothoracic surgeon, broke down how Senator Graham died from aortic dissection.
Oz in an interview shared, that there’s not a likely chance Graham saw this coming.
Watch Dr. Oz explain here:
Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, died on Saturday at the age of 71 from an "aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” according to preliminary findings from the medical examiner.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the… pic.twitter.com/luqs44Hiuu
— ABC News (@ABC) July 13, 2026
Fox News elaborated on how aortic dissection can be deadly:
New details surrounding Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death have drawn attention to a cardiovascular emergency that can become fatal within minutes.
A statement released by Graham’s office on Sunday cited preliminary findings from the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, identifying the cause of death as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Authorities said Graham, 71, was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m. Saturday. An autopsy was completed Sunday.
“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the statement said.
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency in which a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta — the body’s largest artery, according to Mayo Clinic.
“It occurs when the layers of the aorta come apart and the inner one tears,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham, told Fox News Digital.
Blood rushes through the tear and causes the layers of the aortic wall to separate, which can disrupt blood flow to vital organs or lead to a fatal rupture if not treated immediately.
“It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize,” added Siegel, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly.
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Here’s Dr. Oz giving another explanation:
My friend Senator Graham reportedly died from an aortic dissection, which I focused on as a heart surgeon. This catastrophic condition kills most victims within 48 hours and is best prevented by managing your blood pressure. pic.twitter.com/mXKOyQU3Yj
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) July 14, 2026
Axios shared the following details on aortic dissections:
Aortic dissections happen when the inner layer of the body’s main artery tears, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The condition is most common in men in their 60s and 70s. Graham was 71.
“There are really no warning signs of it unless someone has a history of aortic dissections in the family,” says Mansukhani.
There are generally two types of aortic dissections.
Type A is the more common and more dangerous form because the tear occurs in the section of the aorta leaving the heart.
ADVERTISEMENTType B happens in the descending aorta, which is further down the chest and can be treated with medication and monitoring.
Aortic dissections can resemble heart attacks and other medical emergencies, with symptoms including severe chest and upper back pain, severe stomach pain, loss of consciousness and shortness of breath, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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