healthydailymail.com A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that forms in a vein, travels through your bloodstream, and lodges in your lungs. A pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency because a large embolism, or sometimes many repeated smaller ones, can be fatal in a short time.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms you feel can depend on the location and size of your blood clot. Shortness of breath is the most common symptom. Other symptoms include rapid breathing; anxiety and restlessness; chest pain, which might extend into your shoulder, arm, neck, and jaw; coughing or spitting up blood; feeling lightheaded or fainting; and having a rapid heartbeat.
What causes a pulmonary embolism?
The type of clot that is likely to cause a pulmonary embolism usually originates in the veins deep in your muscles. This condition is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT usually occurs in your leg or pelvic veins; although less commonly it can also sometimes occur in your arm veins.
Factors that increase the risk of DVT or pulmonary embolism include:
- Having a close family member who has had a pulmonary embolism
- Inherited blood clotting abnormalities
- Major surgery
- Hip or leg fractures
- Standing or sitting still for long periods of time, such as on a long plane trip or car ride
- Cancer
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Having a history of a heart attack or stroke
- Pregnancy, taking birth control pills, or taking estrogen replacement therapy
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