Pulmonary embolism: 9 symptoms and main causes

Chest pain when breathing and the feeling of shortness of breath are the main symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, which is a situation that occurs when a blood vessel in the lung is completely blocked, preventing the blood from circulating properly.

Thus, to identify a case of embolism or pulmonary thrombosis, one must be aware of some symptoms such as:

1. Sudden feeling of shortness of breath; Chest pain that worsens when breathing deeply, coughing or eating; Constant cough that may contain blood; Swelling of the legs or pain when moving the legs; Pale, cold, bluish skin; Low fever; Excessive production sweating; rapid and irregular heartbeat; dizziness that does not improve.

If you have more than one of these symptoms, it is advisable to go to the emergency room or immediately call an ambulance to confirm the diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment, which, if not done quickly, can lead to serious sequelae and even death.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The symptoms of pulmonary embolism can be mistaken for a heart problem, so the doctor usually uses diagnostic tests such as a blood test, chest X-ray, CT scan or pulmonary angiography to confirm the suspicions and start treatment.

What can cause an embolism

Although pulmonary embolism can happen to anyone, it is more frequent due to some causes, such as:

1. Lack of physical activity

When you stay in the same position for a long time, such as lying or sitting, blood begins to accumulate more in one place of the body, usually in the legs. Most of the time, this accumulation of blood does not cause any problem because when the person gets up the blood circulates normally.

However, people who lie down for several days or sit down, such as after surgery or due to a serious illness like stroke, for example, are at increased risk of accumulated blood starting to form clots. These clots can be transported through the bloodstream to block a pulmonary vessel, causing an embolism.

What to do: To avoid this risk, you must exercise with all members of the body every day and change positions every 2 hours, at least. Bedridden people who are unable to move on their own should be moved by someone else, doing exercises like those indicated in this list.

2. Surgeries

In addition to the postoperative period of a surgery to decrease the level of physical activity and increase the risk of clots, the surgery itself can also lead to pulmonary embolism. This is because during surgery there are several lesions in the veins that can hinder the passage of blood and cause a clot that can be transported to the lungs.

What to do: It is important to comply with the entire postoperative period in the hospital to maintain the continuous observation of the doctor who can act as soon as the first signs of problems appear. At home, it is recommended to use the medications indicated by the doctor, especially anticoagulants, such as Warfarin or Aspirin.

3. Deep venous thrombosis

People who suffer from deep vein thrombosis have a high risk of developing clots that can be transported to other organs, such as the brain and lungs, causing serious complications such as embolism or stroke.

What to do: To avoid complications, the treatment indicated by the doctor must be followed, which usually includes the use of anticoagulants. See how this problem is treated.

4. Air travel

Taking any trip for more than 4 hours, whether by plane, car or boat, for example, increases the risk of having a clot due to the fact that you spend a lot of time in the same position. However, on the plane, this risk may be increased due to pressure differences that can make the blood more viscous, increasing the ease in forming clots.

What to do: during long journeys, such as by plane, it is advisable to lift or move your legs every 30 minutes, in addition to drinking water regularly to keep your blood more fluid.

5. Fractures

Fractures are one of the main causes of pulmonary embolism because when a bone breaks, it can cause damage to several blood vessels, in addition to the time it takes to rest for the fracture to heal. These injuries can not only lead to the formation of clots, but also the entry of air or fat into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of having an embolism.

What to do: Avoid dangerous activities, such as climbing, and maintain adequate protections in high-impact sports to try to avoid a fracture.

Who is at higher risk of embolism

Although pulmonary embolism can happen in any of the previous situations, it is more common in people with risk factors such as:

• Age over 60 years; Previous history of blood clots; Obesity or being overweight; Being a smoker; History of heart or vascular disease; Use a pill or do hormone replacement treatments.

Pulmonary embolism is a rare condition, even in people who take the birth control pill, however, it is important to know what signs may indicate this problem.

How the treatment is done

Treatment for pulmonary embolism includes administering oxygen to the individual through a mask, medications through the vein to undo the plunger, such as heparin, which will dissolve the clot that is preventing the passage of blood, and pain relievers.

Usually, treatment for pulmonary embolism requires hospitalization that can last for a few weeks or months. Surgery to remove the thrombus can be indicated in the most severe cases or when the obstruction of blood flow happens due to a foreign object or piece of bone, for example.

Check out more about how pulmonary embolism is treated.