Some Facts About The Deadly Condition Called PE

A Pulmonary embolism is a medical condition that occurs when there’s an obstruction in the normal functioning of the blood flow in one or more of the lungs. In most cases, the condition is initiated due to the formation of blood clots that detach from other parts of the body, such as the legs which is commonly referred to as a deep vein thrombosis or DVT.

It is not always necessary that this condition follows a set of signs and symptoms. Even if some signs do surface, they differ from person to person. However, the most common signs of this medical condition are chest pain and shortness of breath.

This condition can be life-threatening if you don’t take appropriate preventive actions. Quick treatment with proper medication can minimize the chances of the condition taking a turn for the worst. Taking preventive measures to reduce blood-clots in the legs greatly helps to protect the person against clots reaching any further and traveling to the lungs.

In addition, taking certain birth control pills like yasmin can cause deep vein thrombosis which eventually may lead to a pulmonary embolism. Therefore, always consult with your physician before using any hormonal contraceptives.

Complications associated with pulmonary embolism:
A PE is a life-threatening condition. Undiagnosed and untreated patients can die. However, when it is diagnosed and treated promptly, the number of deaths drops dramatically. If the arteries of the lungs get blocked, it may put pressure on the heart. That means your heart may have to work harder in order to transport blood through blood vessels. This would result in a rise in the blood pressure of the arteries and can affect the related section of the heart too. Even more severe is if the clot further travels from the lungs to the head resulting in a stroke, to the eyes resulting in blindness or completely restricts the flow of blood leading to the death of tissue.

Signs and Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism
The signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism depending on the size of the blood clot, its effect on the lungs, and the patients current heart status.

Most common signs and symptoms of this condition include:

• Shortness of breath: The patient may feel difficulty in breathing properly.
• Chest pain: Patient may feel severe pain in the chest. Even, heart attack is a possibility. The discomfort in the chest may worsen when the person breaths deeply or coughs.
• Cough: There may be blood-streaked sputum.

Other indications that show the occurrence of pulmonary embolism include:

• Swelling in leg (usually occurs in one of the legs)
• Discoloration or bluish-colored skin
• Excessive sweating
• Anxiety
• Heart palpitations
• Weak pulse
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• blood with cough