A pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when a blood clot travels to the lung from elsewhere in the body.
A blood clot can form in blood vessels anywhere in the body, but a pulmonary embolism is most commonly caused by a blood clot from the legs or pelvis. This type of clot formation is known as deep vein thrombosis.
While a clot may originate somewhere else in the body, part or all of the clot may eventually break loose and move through the body and into the pulmonary arteries. These are the arteries responsible for carrying blood to the lungs.
When a clot moves into the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, it can cut off blood flow to the lungs, stress the heart and damage the lung tissue. A pulmonary embolism can also lead to low blood oxygen levels and damage to other organs in the body as they are deprived of oxygen.
If a pulmonary embolism forms, prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential. The team of experts at the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute are here to help patients in Kentucky, offering the therapies needed to treat the clot and prevent future clot formation.
A pulmonary embolism can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the size of the clot and other factors. Symptoms may include:
- Back pain
- Bluish tint to lips or nails
- Chest pain when breathing in
- Cough, with or without blood or bloody mucus
- Excessive sweating
- Extremely low blood pressure
- Increased pulse
- Leg pain or swelling
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Low blood oxygen
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Wheezing
Chest discomfort may show up in different ways, including a sharp or stabbing sensation, a dull ache or a feeling of heaviness. In some cases, symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs don’t occur until complications such as pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries) develop later in the disease progression.
A pulmonary embolism can be a serious and life-threatening condition. According to the American Lung Association, up to 30 percent of those diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism die within one month.
Prompt treatment is needed to prevent serious complications and improve chances of survival. Quick detection and treatment of a pulmonary embolism can mean less damage in the lungs and throughout the body.
You may be able to prevent pulmonary embolism with a healthy lifestyle and other simple precautions:
- Avoid crossing your legs or sitting with your legs under you.
- Avoid tight-fitting clothing.
- Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
- Drink plenty of fluids, limiting alcohol and caffeine.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get to (and maintain) a healthy weight.
- When traveling, get up and move around for at least a few minutes every hour.
If you have any known risk factors for pulmonary embolism, talk with your medical provider about other steps you can take to lower your risk. These may include elevating your feet at times during the day or having a vena cava filter implanted in your heart.
One of the most significant risk factors for pulmonary embolism is having had a pulmonary embolism or another type of blood clot previously. Other risk factors include:
- Being inactive or immobile for a long period, such as during travel
- Being obese
- Being pregnant or postpartum (During pregnancy, the fetus often rests on veins in the pelvis, which can slow blood flow from the legs. If a blood clot forms in the legs, it can move to the lungs.)
- Having a family history of a clotting disorder
- Having certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, autoimmune conditions or some cancers
- Smoking
- Undergoing surgery
- Using supplemental estrogen through oral contraceptives or hormone replacement
As the area’s most advanced emergency department — and home to the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute — UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital is the preferred choice for patients experiencing emergency, life-threatening cardiac events. Whether you arrive by ambulance or are transferred from another hospital, you can rest assured that you are in the hands of the region’s most advanced interventional cardiology team.
By the time you get to the hospital via emergency transport, Emergency Medical Services or the team that facilitated your transfer will have shared your symptoms and any known diagnosis with our emergency department.
Patients experiencing heart attack symptoms bypass our emergency room and are taken to the cardiac catheterization lab to reduce the time it takes to start treatment. For heart patients taken to our emergency department, our team of emergency medicine doctors and interventional cardiologists are ready to provide imaging exams, bloodwork, additional tests or any needed emergency procedures.
Following emergency treatment, you may recover in our Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit before being transferred to your hospital room. Once you are ready to go home or to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, you will be assigned a UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute cardiologist for any ongoing care needed.
Our interventional cardiology team helps patients regain good heart health every day. We also participate in clinical trials to enhance interventional cardiology treatment and management in the future.
Our team engages in trials to investigate new advances. Because of this, you have access to the latest treatment options available.
If you’re a candidate for an ongoing trial, your care team will discuss this option with you.
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