Pulmonary arteries help the blood flow from your heart to the lungs. If a blood clot forms in one of the arteries that connect your heart with your lungs, it is called a Pulmonary Embolism (PE). Such blood clots resist the general blood flow, causing serious problems, including a lower oxygen level in your blood and one or multiple organ dysfunctions. If a person has several small clots or one big clot, a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. These clots usually develop if the blood cannot flow freely through your legs due to remaining in a still posture for a long time, say during a long drive or if you're on bed rest for illness.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism may include:
- Sharp & Sudden Chest Pain
- Shortness of Breath
- Cough with Blood in Mucus
- Dizziness
- Heart Palpitations
- Pain or Swelling in Your Leg
- Lightheadedness, Dizziness, Sudden Loss in Blood Pressure
The risk factors of Pulmonary Embolism may include prolonged immobility, chronic medical conditions like Chronic Heart & Kidney Disease, Cancer, long bone fracture, recent surgery, medications like OCP etc.
Dr. Tarun Kumar Baid
Consultant - Pulmonology & Critical Care in SiliguriMBBS (North Bengal Medical College),
MD Respiratory Medicine (Sardar Patel Medical College)
DAA (Asthma & Allergy) University of Colorado, USA
