7 Signs of a Pulmonary Embolism You Can’t Ignore

You know that the accumulation of sticky plaque in your arteries — often caused by high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and factors like older age — can set the stage for a blood clot that travels to your heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke. 

In recognition of Blood Clot Awareness Month this March, our expert team at Advanced Vascular Surgery wants to highlight another blood clot problem that every adult should know about: pulmonary embolism.   

Following heart attack and stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE) — or a blood clot in one of your lungs — is the third most common form of cardiovascular disease. Every year, about 900,000 Americans develop a PE — and one in three (33%) die from this dangerous acute condition before they can get diagnosed and treated. 

Here, our board-certified specialists discuss PE causes, risk factors, and common PE signs that should prompt you to seek immediate emergency care. 

DVT: The starting point of every PE 

A pulmonary embolism, or PE, is a serious and common complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — or a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower body (pelvis or leg).  

Three key mechanisms essentially set the stage for blood clot formation in one of your deep veins. A DVT may develop:

• As part of the normal healing response to damage within a vein 
• Following a lengthy period of sluggish blood flow (poor circulation)
• When something makes blood stickier and more likely to clot
• Through some combination of these factors (i.e., as with smoking)

If the blockage is significant, a DVT may cause localized symptoms near the affected vein — like swelling, warmth, skin redness, cramping, and pain or tenderness. Smaller DVTs, on the other hand, may exist “silently,” not causing any symptoms at all. 

The danger that comes with every DVT is the very real chance that it might break loose from the wall of your deep vein and travel through your bloodstream to one of your lungs, where it’s likely to get stuck in a pulmonary artery, block blood flow, strain your heart, and cause a life-threatening PE.

Venous thromboembolism risk factors

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an umbrella medical term encompassing DVT and PE. Certain factors increase your chances of developing VTE, and knowing about these factors — and how many affect you — is the first step in becoming “PE symptom aware.”   

Your VTE (both DVT and PE) risk increases if you:

• Are getting older (aged 60+) 
• Are inactive for long stretches
• Recently had major surgery
• Have a family history of VTE
• Have a blood clotting disorder
• Are a current cigarette smoker 
• Have overweight or obesity
• Are pregnant or postpartum

Taking systemic estrogen medications (i.e., hormone therapy and hormonal birth control) can also elevate your VTE risk. Several chronic illnesses can make VTE more likely, too, including cancer, diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and kidney disease. 

As with other cardiovascular risk profiles, your VTE risk is cumulative, meaning the more factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing a DVT — and a PE complication. 

Don’t ignore these seven PE warning signs

While a blood clot in the lung doesn’t always have warning signs, most people do experience noticeable symptoms. In fact, PE symptoms often come on quickly, emerging within seconds to minutes and intensifying rapidly. 

Seven common red-flag warning signs of a PE include:

1. Sudden shortness of breath 
2. Sharp chest pain when inhaling
3. Rapid breathing or wheezing  
4. Fast or irregular heartbeat
5. Cough (with or without blood) 
6. Sudden drop in blood pressure
7. Pale appearance; clammy skin 

The sudden shortness of breath that occurs with PE can happen during activity or rest. Likewise, the sharp chest pain triggered by a PE can radiate, similar to heart attack pain that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw. 

Less commonly, a PE may also trigger symptoms like:   

• Sudden, excessive sweating
• Lightheadedness or dizziness 
• Bluish lips and/or fingernails
• Feelings of anxiety or dread 

Sometimes, PE symptoms come on more gradually, developing from mild to intense over the course of several days. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 and seek emergency medical care right away. 

Taking action to prevent blood clots

If you have two or more risk factors for VTE — or if you’ve been diagnosed with DVT or have worrisome lower extremity symptoms — we encourage you to get in touch with our team for a comprehensive evaluation, including a vascular ultrasound. 

VTE may be common, but both blood clots and their complications are also preventable. We’re here to help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at Advanced Vascular Surgery in Kalamazoo, Allegan, Battle Creek, Coldwater, Sturgis, or Three Rivers, Michigan, today.