Pulmonary Embolisms is a blockage in a pulmonary artery within a lung.
The causes of Pulmonary Embolisms include a blood clot that formed and travelled into the lungs. The most common place for a blood clot is the leg. Also, a deep vein thrombosis can cause a Pulmonary Embolism.
Pulmonary Embolism are life threatening because the blood clot blocks blood flow into the lungs.
Symptoms depend on the size and where the blood clot is. However some symptoms include, shortness of breath, chest pain, and a cough. Some other minor symptoms include fever, sweating and leg pain.
A Pulmonary Embolism occurs when a blood clot is caught within an artery in your lungs. When the part of the artery does not receive oxygen, it dies.
Diagnosis of a Pulmonary Embolism include blood tests. The doctors would be looking at a clot-dissolving substance D dimer. If the levels are high, then there is a high chance of having an pulmonary embolism. An ultrasound can check the sound waves within ones veins to check for pulmonary embolisms.
Treatment include; anticoagulants and thrombolytics or clot dissolvers. Thrombolytics can cause severe bleeding and are often not prescribed. A clot removal can occur, which is a surgical procedure.