Why pulmonary embolism is caused

Diagnosis can be challenging because other conditions have similar symptoms. The risk of developing a pulmonary embolism increases with age.

People who have conditions or diseases that increase the risk of blood clotting are more likely to develop pulmonary embolisms. A person has a higher risk of pulmonary embolism if they have, or have had a blood clot in the leg or arm DVT , or if they have had a pulmonary embolism in the past.

Long periods of bed rest or inactivity increase the risk of DVT and, therefore, increase the risk of pulmonary embolism. This could be a long flight or car ride. When we do not move much, our blood pools in the lower parts of our body. If blood is moving around less than normal, a blood clot is more likely to form. Damaged blood vessels also increase the risk. This can occur because of injury or surgery. If a blood vessel is damaged, the inside of the blood vessel may become narrower, increasing the chances of a blood clot forming.

Other factor risk include certain cancers , inflammatory bowel disease , obesity , pacemakers, catheters in the veins, pregnancy, estrogen supplements, a family history of blood clots, and smoking. With effective and timely treatment, most people who experience a pulmonary embolism can make a full recovery. The condition carries a high risk of fatality.

However, early treatment can dramatically reduce this risk. The period of highest risk is in this hours after the embolism first occurs. The outlook is also worse if the embolism was caused by an underlying condition, such as a type of cancer. Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of blood clots in a deep vein that can be fatal. Read about the causes, symptoms, and treatments here.

Sometimes blood clots form in surface veins. But these clots rarely lead to pulmonary embolism. In rare cases, pulmonary embolism may be caused by other substances.

They include: Small masses of infectious material. It can be released into the bloodstream after some types of bone fractures, surgery, trauma, or severe burns. Air bubbles or substances that get into the blood from trauma, surgery, or medical procedures. Tumors caused by rapidly growing cancer cells. Amniotic fluid. Previous Section Next Section. Clinical Trials Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment.

Open Trials. Pulmonary Embolism. Clinical Trials. MyHealth Login. Financial Assistance. Medical Records. Blood clots in the deep veins of the body can have several different causes, including :. There are additional risk factors that increase your odds of having the type of blood clot that can cause PE.

PE has a wide variety of characteristics, ranging from no symptoms to sudden death. The most common presenting symptom is shortness of breath followed by chest pain and cough. However, many people with PE have mild or nonspecific symptoms or are asymptomatic, including people with a large PE. A doctor will typically perform one or more of the following tests to discover the cause of your symptoms:. Acute PE, a blockage in the lung artery, often from a blood clot, is a common and sometimes fatal disease.

Read more: Learn about the risks of DVT. Your treatment for a PE depends on the size and location of the blood clot. If the problem is minor and caught early, a doctor may recommend medication as treatment. Some drugs can break up small clots. Some procedures a doctor may use in the case of a pulmonary embolism include :.

Regularly exercising your legs and practicing health-promoting behaviors are key components of prevention and therapy after a PE. A doctor will give you complete instructions on how to care for yourself to prevent future blood clots. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot reaches the lungs.

These blood clots often come from deep vein thrombosis, which can result from damage to bone and muscle or from long periods of inactivity. A doctor will typically prescribe medications that thin the blood and, in certain cases, use medications that break up blood clots. Minimally invasive interventional procedures and surgery may be required in some instances.