If you’re going on a long plane ride, beware of a danger far greater than a kid kicking the back of your seat. That danger is pulmonary embolism, and it occurs when an artery in the lungs becomes blocked by a blood clot.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Cough, chest pain and shortness of breath are all potential symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.
The most common symptom of a pulmonary embolism is shortness of breath. Other symptoms include chest pain and cough.
“Most blood clots come from your thighs,” said Marshfield Clinic pulmonologist Dr. Craig Wolfe. “So when I examine someone who I believe may have a pulmonary embolism, I look for swelling in one leg versus the other, pain in one leg and sudden onset of shortness of breath.”
Pulmonary embolism is detected by a cat scan of the chest. If you are having symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, it’s important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
A life-threatening condition
“Pulmonary embolism is always life threatening,” Wolfe said. “You can die from them if you get a big blockage that blocks all the blood flow through your lungs.”
Wolfe said once you have one blood clot, more tend to form.
It’s like a snowball running downhill,” Wolfe said. “The more clots you have, the more new clots form and the quicker they build up.”
Treating pulmonary embolism
Wolfe said if a clot isn’t big enough to significantly block blood flow returning to the heart, then medication can be given that stops the formation of future clots. However, if the existing clot is blocking blood flow to the point a person’s blood pressure drops, medicine can be administered to break up that clot.
Risk factors
Being immobile for long stretches of time or having a traumatic injury to your legs puts you at higher risk for a pulmonary embolism. Smoking, cancer and obesity all increase your chance of developing blood clots.
If you have had a recent surgery, your risk for blood clots may increase. A family history of pulmonary embolism also increases your risk for developing the condition.
If you’re taking a long trip via car or airplane, it’s important to stand up, walk around and stretch your legs occasionally to get blood flowing properly.
“If you get pain or swelling in just one leg, that’s a concern that should be addressed immediately by your care provider,” Wolfe said.
Just found out i have embolisum and i get pain but doctors won't give me pain killers , when i get upset i get severe iregular hart beats scary. Baisicly there no cure for these clots ' i want to know. I heard they could be removed. The clots from your lungs only if you have money!! NICE
Hi. I lost my 32 year old daughter Yessenia from Pulmonary Embolism on October 9,2020. We went to emergency room on the 7th. They treated her as she had asthma. She had the short of breath and chest pain. They took an Chest X-ray. The doctor didn’t see anything. He said it was clear. But they gave her oxygen and asthma medication and send her home. The morning of the 9th her husband got home from work and she was laying in the floor dead. It’s been a nightmare for me. Ladies please pay attention to the symptoms. This is a serious thing.
i have all of the symptoms of heart disease . swelling and discoloration of the left leg , chest pain , trouble breathing obesity , inner thigh leg cramps high blood pressure and rigid bumpy finger nails but my doctor has never diagnosed me with anything. what should i do
Hi Mimi, Thank you for reaching out. We recommend discussing your concerns with a cardiologist or primary care provider. They can best advise you due to their knowledge of your medical history and past conditions. If you spoke with your provider, you can also could ask for a second opinion from another provider in your area.
Every American needs to PAY ATTENTION : If a spouse shows redness below ONE knee along with heat
and tenderness with palpation. GO TO THE E.R. ASAP. Clot blocking meds, a CAT scan, and Blood thinners
are needed. Six hours after the above I lost my wife with Irregular Breathing leading to Pulmonary EMBOLISM !!!!
WE DID NOT GO IN BECAUSE OF FEAR OF Covid 19. I feel so guilty today, She is gone….
Please, everyone, take this very very seriously. My wife was killed by a Saddle Pulmonary Embolism (were blood vessel from the heart splits into 2 to go into the separate lungs) in Wausau 25 years ago.