A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel in one area of the body, breaks off, and travels to another area of the body in the blood is called an embolus. An embolus can lodge itself in a blood vessel. This can block the blood supply to a particular organ.
Pulmonary embolism restricts blood flow to the lungs, lowers oxygen levels in the lungs and increases blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from deep veins in the legs or, rarely, from veins in other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis). These clots develop when the blood can’t flow freely through the legs because human body is still for a long time, say during a long flight or drive.
Common signs and symptoms include:
*Shortness of breath
*Chest pain
*Cough
*Difficulty breathing
*Panting
*Fast heartbeat
If left untreated, acute pulmonary embolism is associated with a mortality rate as high as 30%.
Pulmonary embolism is often difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism are a lot like those of many other conditions and diseases. Imaging tests and blood tests are used to look for a pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism
