Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage in one of the arteries in the lungs, usually due to a blood clot. The clot can be large or small, & there can be multiple clots. 

A PE usually occurs because of an underlying blood clot in the leg - a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The symptoms of a DVT are:

• Pain and tenderness of the calf.
• Swelling of the calf.
• Colour and temperature changes of the calf. The calf may then become warm and red.

Sometimes there are no symptoms of a DVT, and it is only diagnosed once the clot has travelled to the lungs causing a PE.

Pregnancy, various medical conditions and drugs, the contraceptive pill, surgery and periods of immobility, all increase the risk of developing a blood clot. Some people suffer with a genetic predisposition to blood clotting.

A PE is a medical emergency, as it is potentially life-threatening. The symptoms can be sudden and severe. 

A small PE may cause:

• No symptoms at all (common).
• Breathlessness - this can vary in degree from very mild to obvious shortness of breath.
• Chest pain which is pleuritic, meaning sharp pain felt when breathing in. Often you feel like you can't breathe deeply, as this causes you to catch your breath. This happens because the blood clot may irritate the lining layer (pleura) around the lung. Shallow breathing is more comfortable.
• Coughing up blood (this is known as haemoptysis).
• A mild fever.
• A fast heart rate (this is known as a tachycardia).

A massive PE or multiple emboli (lots of clots) may cause:

• Severe breathlessness.
• Chest pain - with a large PE the pain may be felt in the centre of the chest behind the breastbone.
• Feeling faint, feeling unwell, or a collapse. This is because a large blood clot interferes with the heart and blood circulation, causing the blood pressure to drop dramatically.
• In extreme cases, a massive PE can cause cardiac arrest, where the heart stops pumping due to the clot. This can result in death, even if resuscitation is attempted. (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/pulmonary-embolism-leaflet)

If you feel that you have ANY symptoms of a DVT / PE, please seek medical attention urgently. 

I was not aware of the symptoms and was completely oblivious to how poorly I actually was. Before seeking help, my symptoms were so severe that I could barely lift my arm without becoming extremely breathless and my heart beating so fast that it felt as though an elephant was sitting on my chest. Every step was agonising, and made me feel as though I was suffocating. Don't ignore the symptoms like I did - see a doctor straight away!

For more information, visit: www.thrombosis-charity.org.uk