Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism happens when a blood clot blocks one of the blood vessels in your lungs. This is a serious condition that needs urgent treatment.

What causes it?

Most of the time, a pulmonary embolism starts with a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein blood clot or DVT). Part of this clot can break away and travel through your bloodstream to your lungs, where it gets stuck and blocks the blood flow.

What are the symptoms?

The main warning signs include:

• Sudden difficulty breathing - this comes on quickly, not gradually
• Chest pain that gets worse when you breathe in
• Coughing up blood

You might also notice symptoms in your leg (usually your calf), such as:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling

These leg symptoms could mean you have a blood clot that might travel to your lungs.

When to get help

Get urgent help by calling your GP or NHS 111 if you have:

• Sudden difficulty breathing
• Coughing up blood

Call 999 immediately if you have:

• Severe difficulty breathing
• Chest pain or upper back pain
• Very fast heartbeat
• Someone has fainted

These could be signs of a pulmonary embolism or another serious condition. Don't drive yourself to A&E - ask someone to take you or call an ambulance.

How is it treated?

If your GP thinks you might have a pulmonary embolism, they'll send you to hospital straight away for tests and treatment.

At hospital, you'll likely get an injection of blood-thinning medicine (called anticoagulants) before your test results come back. This medicine stops blood clots from getting bigger and prevents new ones forming.

If tests confirm you have a pulmonary embolism, you'll continue with blood-thinning injections for at least 5 days. You'll also need to take blood-thinning tablets for at least 3 months.

The good news is that most people make a full recovery if the condition is spotted and treated quickly.

How to reduce your risk

You can lower your risk of getting a pulmonary embolism, especially during long journeys (over 4 hours):

Do:

• Choose an aisle seat if possible
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing
• Make sure you have plenty of leg room
• Drink water regularly
• Take regular breaks from sitting
• Move your legs, feet and toes every 30 minutes
• Press your feet firmly against the floor occasionally
• Consider wearing flight socks

Don't:

• Sit for long periods without moving
• Drink alcohol
• Have too much coffee or caffeine
• Take sleeping pills

If you're in hospital for another condition, your medical team should take steps to prevent blood clots.

Remember, speak to your GP if you're worried about your risk of blood clots or if you experience any concerning symptoms.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.