Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death from an aortic dissection has spiked public interest in the condition, with many wondering what it is, who is at risk and whether it can be detected before becoming life-threatening.

“Most people think of aortic dissection as a rare condition, but it’s more common than many realize,” says Joseph Bavaria, MD, Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Jefferson Health and an international expert on dissection and aortic diseases.

Characterized by a tear in the aortic wall, dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency. It develops suddenly and often without warning, although the underlying aortic disease or weakness that increases the risk of dissection may have been present for years. 

The average person takes about 35,000 steps per week – and that number typically increases in warmer weather. Proper foot care is an important part of our overall health and taking precautions now can prevent problems later on.

“During the summer, there are more foot and ankle problems, whether from going barefoot, wearing the wrong sandals or overdoing it on the tennis court,” says foot & ankle surgeon Albert D’Angelantonio, DPM, from Jefferson Foot & Ankle in Haddonfield, NJ. The good news, he adds, is that many of these issues are preventable with some preparation.