Disease Insights: embolism-pulmonary
Welcome to the ultimate guide on embolism pulmonary. Here, you'll find answers to the most common questions to help you or your loved ones understand and manage this condition better.
Description for embolism pulmonary
A condition where a blood clot or other substance blocks blood flow to the lungs, causing shortness of breath and chest pain.
Symptoms of embolism pulmonary
chest pain, coughing up blood, lightheadedness, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath
Precautions for embolism pulmonary
Take prescribed blood thinners, Avoid prolonged immobility, Wear compression stockings, Follow a healthy diet
Questions Covered:
- what is embolism pulmonary?
- What are the usual symptoms of embolism pulmonary?
- causes of embolism pulmonary?
- How do doctors usually figure out if someone has embolism pulmonary, diagnosis?
- What are the potential risk factors associated with embolism pulmonary?
- What are the ways to prevent embolism pulmonary?
Answers:
Question: what is embolism pulmonary?
What is a pulmonary embolism?
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that occurs in the lungs.
It can damage part of the lung due to:
Large or multiple blood clots can be life threatening. However, immediate emergency treatment for a PE greatly increases your chances of avoiding permanent lung damage.
Explore the interactive 3-D diagram below to learn more about pulmonary embolism symptoms.
Question: What are the usual symptoms of embolism pulmonary?
Symptoms of a PE depend on the size of the clot and where it gets stuck in the lung.
The most common symptom of a PE is shortness of breath. This may be gradual or sudden.
Other symptoms include:
anxiety
clammy or bluish skin
chest pain that may extend into your arm, jaw, neck, and shoulder
fainting
irregular heartbeat
lightheadedness
rapid breathing
rapid heartbeat
spitting up blood
weak pulse
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, especially shortness of breath, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Read more: How to tell if you have a blood clot.
Question: causes of embolism pulmonary?
Blood clots can form for a variety of reasons. PEs are most often caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which blood clots form in veins deep in the body. The blood clots that most often cause PEs begin in the legs or pelvis.
Blood clots in the deep veins of the body can have several different causes, including:
Injury or damage. Injuries like bone fractures or muscle tears can cause damage to blood vessels, leading to clots.
Inactivity. During long periods of inactivity, gravity causes blood to collect in the lowest areas of your body, which may lead to a blood clot. This could occur if you're sitting for a lengthy trip or if you're lying in bed recovering from an illness.
Medical conditions. Some health conditions cause blood to clot easily, which can lead to PE. Treatments that involve surgery often lead to short-term bed rest or limited movement, which can make clotting more likely. Also, certain medical therapies for cancer can have side effects such as clotting in the blood. This puts you at risk for DVT and PE.
There are additional risk factors that increase your odds of having the type of blood clot that can cause PE.
Question: How do doctors usually figure out if someone has embolism pulmonary, diagnosis?
PE has a wide variety of characteristics, ranging from no symptoms to sudden death. The most common presenting symptom is shortness of breath followed by chest pain and cough. However, many people with PE have mild or nonspecific symptoms or are asymptomatic, including people with a large PE.
When you talk with a doctor about your symptoms, they'll ask about your overall health and any preexisting conditions you may have.
A doctor will typically perform one or more of the following tests to discover the cause of your symptoms:
Chest X-ray. This is a standard, noninvasive test that lets a doctor see your heart and lungs to look for other obvious causes of your symptoms. A PE can not be diagnosed with this test. The most common finding of a PE on a chest X-ray is 'normal.'
Electrocardiography (ECG). An ECG measures your heart's electrical activity. A PE can not be diagnosed on an ECG. This test will check for other causes of chest pain.
Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). This test is the first-choice diagnostic imaging method because it's sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of PE. However, it requires the use of intravenous (IV) contrast. Therefore, people with kidney problems will likely not be able to have this test because contrast may cause or worsen kidney disease. When a CTPA can not be performed, the doctor may instead consider a VQ scan to diagnose a PE.
Ventilation/perfusion scan (VQ). A VQ scan is carried out in two parts. In the first part, radioactive material is breathed in, and pictures are taken to look at the airflow in your lungs. In the second part, a different radioactive material is injected into a vein in your arm, and more images are taken to see the blood flow in your lungs. This is mostly reserved for when:
you can not receive a CTPA
the results of the CPTA were inconclusive
more testing is needed
Magnetic resonance pulmonary angiography (MRPA). This is not recommended as a first-line test for diagnosing PE, but it may be an imaging option to diagnose PE in people who can neither receive a CTPA nor a VQ scan. Potential advantages of MRPA are that no ionizing radiation is involved, and the examination can be combined with MR venography in the same sitting to look for DVT.
Venography. A venogram is an invasive test that is rarely used for the diagnosis of only a DVT. This is a specialized X-ray of the veins in your legs and also requires the use of contrast.
Pulmonary angiography. A pulmonary angiography is an invasive test that's rarely used to diagnose an acute PE. It involves making a small incision so a doctor can guide specialized tools through your veins. The doctor will use contrast to see the blood vessels in the lung.
Duplex venous ultrasound. This is a practical and noninvasive test to only diagnose a DVT. It's important to remember that you can still have a PE even if the ultrasound is negative for a DVT. This test uses radio waves to visualize the blood flow and check for blood clots in your legs.
D-dimer test. This is a type of blood test used to screen for signs of a PE or DVT based on the your probability of having a clot. A doctor can not make a diagnosis based on this blood test. If the result is positive, the doctor must confirm the diagnosis with the appropriate imaging method.
Acute PE, a blockage in the lung artery, often from a blood clot, is a common and sometimes fatal disease. When you're evaluated for a PE, it's often important for the evaluation to be efficient and avoid unnecessary testing so you can start therapy quickly.
If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.
Question: What are the potential risk factors associated with embolism pulmonary?
Factors that increase your risk of developing DVT and PE include:
cancer
a family history of embolisms
hypercoagulable states (blood prone to clotting) or genetic blood clotting disorders, including:
factor V Leiden
prothrombin gene mutation
high levels of homocysteine
a history of heart attack or stroke
obesity
a sedentary lifestyle
taking estrogen or testosterone
Read more: Learn about the risks of DVT.
Question: What are the ways to prevent embolism pulmonary?
After you receive proper treatment for a pulmonary embolism at the hospital, you'll be advised to treat the underlying cause of the PE or DVT if it's known.
You'll most likely start taking anticoagulant medications, such as heparin, warfarin, or newer agents referred to as direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), to prevent blood clots from returning.
Regularly exercising your legs and practicing health-promoting behaviors are key components of prevention and therapy after a PE. A doctor will give you complete instructions on how to care for yourself to prevent future blood clots.
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Conclusion & Takeaways
Learning about embolism pulmonary is the first step toward taking control of your health. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments, you empower yourself to make informed decisions. Remember to consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice and support.