Pulmonary Embolism: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

A pulmonary embolism is a sudden, life-threatening blockage of the pulmonary artery, usually resulting from a blood clot that has traveled through the bloodstream to the lungs. According to the American Lung Association, pulmonary embolism affects 1 in 1,000 people in the United States every year.

Find out how the pulmonology team at Beaufort Memorial can help you avoid these life-threatening blood clots. 

Call 843-707-8040 to schedule an appointment with a member of our pulmonology team.

Pulmonary Embolism Causes

Pulmonary embolisms are very serious and can cause low oxygen levels in the blood or permanent damage to the lungs and other organs. The situation becomes more life-threatening if the clot is large or if there are numerous clots.

In most cases, the blood clot that causes the pulmonary embolism has broken free from the leg or elsewhere in the body due to a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Once the clot lodges in a pulmonary artery, it blocks the normal flow of blood in the lungs. In rarer cases, the blockage is caused by an air bubble or tumor. 

Pulmonary Embolism Risk Factors

Risk factors for pulmonary embolism include:

• Age
• Estrogen from birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
• Family history
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Pregnancy
• Smoking
• Surgery

The blockage causes damage to the lungs and reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the bloodstream and rest of the body. The longer the blockage is in place, the more damage it causes to other organs. If the blockage makes the heart work too hard to pump blood and oxygen, it could result in pulmonary hypertension.

Signs of Pulmonary Embolism

Early signs of a pulmonary embolism can vary depending on the size and severity of the clot. Some people do not experience symptoms at all, but when symptoms do occur, the most common are:

• Blueish lips or nails
• Chest pain
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Excessive sweating
• Leg pain or swelling
• Shortness of breath
• Upper back pain

Diagnosing and Treating Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism is dangerous and sometimes difficult to diagnose, so it is important to contact a doctor immediately if you think you’re experiencing symptoms. Our team will do blood screens and imaging studies, such as a chest X-ray, CT scan or pulmonary angiography, which shows how blood flows through the lungs. Your doctor may also perform an ultrasound of the legs to check blood flow, as well as an electrocardiogram to check heart activity.

To treat a pulmonary embolism, your doctor may recommend one of the following:

• Blood thinners to make sure the clot doesn’t get any bigger and prevent other blood clots from forming
• Changing birth control or hormone replacement medications to alternatives that are less likely to cause a clot
• Compression socks, which force blood in the legs to keep moving

If these methods don’t help, you may need strong clot-dissolving medications called thrombolytics. Sometimes, surgical clot removal is needed. In rare cases when blood thinners don’t work, our doctors might surgically insert an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, which catches blood clots before they can travel to the lungs.

The pulmonology team at Beaufort Memorial can find the treatment you need to avoid or treat a pulmonary embolism and get your blood flowing again.