When a blood clot from another region of the body (often the leg or arm) travels through the circulation and gets trapped in the blood arteries of the lung, this condition is known as a pulmonary embolism. It results in a reduction in the amount of blood that can flow to the lungs. This leads to a decrease in the amount of oxygen found in the lungs and an increase in the blood pressure found in the pulmonary arteries.

A “thrombus” is the medical term for a blood clot that forms in a vein and remains in that location. An embolus is a term used to describe what happens when a blood clot breaks away from the wall of a vein and goes to another location in the body. This article will discuss the symptoms, treatments, and preventions of Pulmonary Embolism.

• Pulmonary embolism often starts as a blood clot in the legs, called deep vein thrombosis.
• Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain are key symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.
• Blood thinners are the primary treatment for preventing and managing pulmonary embolisms.
• Prolonged immobility, like during long flights or bed rest, increases the risk of developing a pulmonary embolism.
• Compression stockings improve blood flow and help prevent blood clots.
• Diagnosing a pulmonary embolism typically involves imaging tests such as CT scans and ultrasounds

In most cases, treatment for pulmonary Embolism occurs in a healthcare facility, such as a hospital, so doctors may carefully monitor your condition. The severity of the clot usually determines the duration of your therapy and the time you will spend in the hospital.

Medication that prevents blood clots is the primary therapy component in most instances (also called blood thinners). Anticoagulants reduce the capacity of the blood to clot and inhibit the formation of new clots in the blood.

Your diagnosis will determine the sort of medicine that will be provided to you, how long you are required to take the drug, and the type of follow-up monitoring that you will need. 

Your follow-up care will comprise regular blood tests while you are on anticoagulants, including the following:

This test measures how long it takes thrombin to clot blood. Your international normalized ratio (INR) can assist your doctor in determining how quickly your blood is clotting and whether or not the dosage of your medicine needs to be adjusted. If you are currently on Coumadin, you must undergo this test to monitor your condition.

This blood test examines how much time it takes for the blood to clot, and its acronym, APTT, often refers to it.

This test determines the amount of heparin in the blood with a low molecular weight. In most cases, it is not required to do this test unless one of the following conditions applies: being overweight, having a renal illness, or being pregnant.

You can avoid the condition by making the following changes in your lifestyle:

Make it an integral part of your life. If you are confined to bed while you recover after surgery, you can wear compression stockings to keep blood moving through your body.

Fluids like water and juice help in preventing clots.

Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages and caffeine

Smoking and obesity also become causes of blood clotting, so avoid both situations.

Walk your feet and legs, bend your knees, and try standing on your toes if you have to remain stationary for extended amounts of time.

Coughing, abrupt shortness of breath, and discomfort in the chest and around the chest are some pulmonary embolism symptoms. If consistently you are facing the condition, then you must be alarmed. Reaching your doctor timely can save you. Besides medication, your practitioner will ask you to use hold-ups, compression stockings, or supportive stockings with graduated compression. Discuss ways to lower your risk factors with your primary care physician, particularly if you or a family member have ever suffered from a blood clot.