Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common diseases and one of the most common causes of death in the Arab world, and because it is a serious condition that must be noticed as soon as it occurs because time can make a difference to save the life of those who suffer from it, so learn about the symptoms lung embolism And the signs of its occurrence, its causes, and methods of prevention and treatment.

What is a lung embolism?

A pulmonary embolism causes a condition called Pulmonary embolism It is a bloody collection in a part of the lung that prevents blood flow naturally, which reduces the oxygen level in the blood, and thus negatively affects the rest of the body, and a clot can be life-threatening if it is very large or there is more than one clot.

However, it is very possible to save the patient’s life, once the signs indicating the presence of a clot are noticed, and emergency treatment of the condition is taken as soon as possible.

Symptoms of a lung embolism

Most people who suffer from a lung stroke develop symptoms quickly, with which an emergency call must be made, and these symptoms include:

• Sudden shortness of breath even at rest without exertion.
• Sharp and sudden pain in the chest, arm, shoulder, neck and jaw, which may be similar to what happens in a heart attack.
• Cough with or without bloody sputum.
• Pale or pale blue skin.
• fast heartbeat
• excessive sweating
• A whistling sound from the chest when breathing.
• Feeling dizzy and fainting.

In a few cases, clear symptoms of a stroke do not appear, so if you are at risk of developing it, we recommend that you follow up your condition with your doctor constantly, especially if you have it. Symptoms of a leg stroke.

Lung stroke causes and risk factors

Clots in the lung usually occur as a result of the formation of a deep clot in the leg, which moves to travel through the blood vessels to reach the lung and be formed Clot in the pulmonary arteryIt is possible that a blockage occurs in the lung arteries as a result of other reasons, such as the accumulation of fat, the formation of air bubbles in the arteries, and the presence of some tumors.

As for the risk factors that increase the possibility of a lung stroke, and with which you should follow up your condition regularly with your doctor, they are as follows:

• If you have a family history of stroke.
• Having a heart disease such as heart failure increases the risk of stroke.
• Having some types of cancer that can spread to the body and also receiving chemotherapy increases the risk of a stroke.
• Undergoing surgery is one of the most risk factors for blood clots, so the doctor may prescribe blood thinners before and after major surgeries.
• Some genetic blood disorders may affect blood thinness and increase clotting factors.
• Having COVID-19 may also increase the risk of a pulmonary embolism.
• Smoking is also one of the factors that most affect the health of blood vessels and blood flow.
• People who are obese are at greater risk of stroke than people of normal weight.
• Taking estrogen supplements found in birth control pills and hormone replacement medications can increase the risk of stroke, especially for women who are overweight or smoke.
• It can increase the risk of thrombosis in pregnancy due to the increase in the size of the fetus and its pressure on the blood vessels in the pelvis, which causes a clot that may travel to the lung.
• Staying in bed for a long time without movement to recover from a serious illness or after a difficult surgery.
• Traveling long distances while sitting in one uncomfortable position without taking breaks and moving around.

Is a lung embolism fatal?

Small clots are usually not fatal, especially if they are treated quickly, and repeated small clots in the lung may lead to a rare condition called Chronic pulmonary hypertension.

However, about 1/3 of people with pulmonary embolism who have not been diagnosed and treated could not survive. Therefore, pulmonary embolism is a serious and life-threatening condition, and with it, attention must be paid to the symptoms well and prompt action to save the patient’s life.

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

Once the patient goes to the emergency room, the doctor will do a physical examination and check for signs of a clot in the leg, then he will do some tests that include:

• A blood test to measure the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
• D-dimer test, which is a protein that appears after a clot forms and breaks down in the blood.
• Chest x-ray and ultrasound.
• Pulmonary ventilation and perfusion examination.
• Pulmonary angiography is the most accurate for detecting pulmonary embolism due to a clot.
• MRI, which may be done by a doctor as a safer procedure in case of pregnancy.

Lung embolism treatment

Once admitted to the hospital and confirming the presence of a clot, the doctor will give the patient an emergency medicine Anticoagulants By injection, which are drugs that dissolve the clot, reduce its increase in size, and prevent the formation of other clots.

After first aid, the doctor will follow up the case and give anticoagulant drugs as tablets by mouth, and you must be careful with taking medications and adhere to the doses and dates of the drug because there are some side effects of it, which are bleeding easily, so the doctor may ask you for very important blood tests that you must do regularly to monitor your condition and ensure that the medication is suitable for you.

In some very severe cases of thrombosis, other medications may be required besides anticoagulants, and in rare cases, surgical intervention may be required to remove the clots.

Lung embolism treatment period

It is normal to find difficulty breathing for several weeks or months from the start of treatment, but if you do not feel any improvement for 8 weeks, then you should talk to your doctor, and the treatment may continue for 3 months depending on the patient’s condition and the risk factors that caused the stroke in the first place, And it can last for a lifetime.

Prevention of lung embolism

Follow these tips to protect yourself from a pulmonary embolism:

• Keep exercising regularly and keep your body active.
• If you’re in bed after surgery or recovering from an illness, or if you’re traveling for a long time, move your body as much as possible, such as moving your arms and legs, for several minutes every hour.
• Drink plenty of healthy fluids, especially water and natural juices, and try to reduce caffeine and avoid alcohol.
• Try to quit smoking.
• Do not sit cross-legged.
• Avoid tight clothes and wear more comfortable clothes that do not compress the body.
• If you are obese, try to lose weight.

Finally, if you have one of the risk factors that we mentioned earlier, talk to the doctor and listen to him in order to protect yourself from a lung stroke and so that you can notice any danger signs that tell you early, and if you have any questions, you can consult one of our doctors from here.