Sept. 12, 2003 -- Popular TV and movie star John Ritter has died from an undetected flaw in his heart called an aortic dissection.

What caused John Ritters aortic dissection?

TRIGGERS: Lifestyle and trauma can trigger aortic aneurysm and/or dissection. It is possible to trigger an aortic dissection through injury to the chest, extreme straining associated with body building, illicit drug abuse, poorly controlled high blood pressure or by discontinuing necessary blood pressure medications.

Did John Ritter have a glass eye?

Ritter had a birth defect known as a coloboma in his right eye.

How did Bernie Mac die?

Sarcoidosis Bernie Mac/Cause of death Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that often attacks multiple organs, particularly the lungs and lymph nodes, and disproportionately affects African Americans. Chicago comedian Bernie Mac suffered from sarcoidosis and died from complications of the disease in 2008.

Could John Ritters death have been prevented?

Late actor John Ritters life could have been saved by a simple chest X-ray, according to his familys lawyer. Dr. Lee did not save John Ritters life, but he didnt kill him either. “At that time there was nothing that could have been done to save his life.”

Is aortic dissection hereditary?

Nonsyndromic familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections are inherited in families as an autosomal dominant disorder and a variable age of onset of the aortic disease.

Is sarcoidosis a death sentence?

Sarcoidosis is not a death sentence! In fact, once diagnosed, your doctors first question will be to determine how extensive the disease is, and whether or not to treat at all – in many cases the choice will be to do nothing but watch carefully and allow the disease to go into remission on its own.

Did Bernie Mac have health problems?

Rheumatology & Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that often attacks multiple organs, particularly the lungs and lymph nodes, and disproportionately affects African Americans. Chicago comedian Bernie Mac suffered from sarcoidosis and died from complications of the disease in 2008.

What is life expectancy after aortic dissection surgery?

Although specific information about overall life expectancy after aortic dissection repair is not available, a recent study from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection reported that about 85% of patients who have undergone successful repair of acute dissection involving the ascending aorta remain alive

How long can you live with aortic dissection?

Short-term and long-term survival rates after acute type A aortic dissection (TA-AAD) are unknown. Previous studies have reported survival rates between 52% and 94% at 1 year and between 45% and 88% at 5 years.