Pulmonary Embolism – Detailed Study of Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms, Causes & Treatments
Pulmonary embolism is actually a blood clot in lungs. Usually it occurs because of smaller vessels in pelvis, arms, heart or leg. A clot in legs and arms are called Deep Venous Thrombosis.
The clot moves through the lung vessels and reach smaller vessels until it gets blocked in a vessel that is too small to let it continue farther. This blocked clot prevents any further blood from circulating to that portion of lung. When no blood or oxygen reaches that portion of the lung, it dies and this is called pulmonary infarct.
Pulmonary Embolism Causes
The major Pulmonary Embolism causes that can make an individual more likely to generate a blood clot can finally break loose and travel to the lungs are;
- Immobilization: Broken bone, spinal cord injury or a stroke can result in isolation to bed can cause clot formation in arms and legs.
- Prolonged Traveling – Traveling such as flight of aero plane, long bus trip or the like will not allow regular blood circulation in the legs and increase the risk of clot formation.
- Surgery that has been done recently.
- Injury or trauma particularly on the legs
- Obesity
- Heart diseases like angina or irregular heartbeat
- Burns
- Previous history of Blood Clot in the legs PE or DVT
- Pregnancy
- Cancer
- Estrogen Therapy
- Certain enzymes and protein deficiency
Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms
Pulmonary Embolism symptoms and signs vary for every individual and some of them are given below.
- Pleuritic Chest Pain: It is a very sharp and stabbing pain in the Chest and has a sudden onset and it turns worst during deep breathing.
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiety
- Dry cough, especially when associated with blood.
- Severe sweating
- Passing out
The physicians and specialist may suspect a blood clot if any of above pulmonary embolism symptoms occur in an individual who has or recently had swollen or painful leg or arm or any risk factors.
When to seek Medical treatment for Pulmonary Embolism
If you feel pain in chest, call emergency or someone who can rush to the nearest hospital in emergency unit.
From medical perspective, it is difficult to diagnose pulmonary embolism. Even latest equipments and tests are not effective. Trying self diagnostics and self treatment for pulmonary embolism is not recommended. It can be potential to be fatal so better it is to seek immediate medical treatment in emergency department.
Pulmonary Embolism Treatment – Medical Treatment to Pulmonary Embolism
In hospital emergency unit, if it is observed that you are having pulmonary embolism symptoms, doctor may further investigate for pulmonary embolism causes and accordingly suggest a pulmonary embolism. It has to be kept in mind that it is still not confirmed, so the treatment will occur from the beginning of an assessment. Having chest pain is not necessarily a symptom for pulmonary embolism, so they may place you on a heart monitor, and often an IV will be inserted.
Pulmonary Embolism treatment for seriously ill patients
Sometimes people with pulmonary embolism are seriously ill. They have severe shortness of breath, low oxygen concentration, and low blood pressure. For them there is a need to have an aggressive treatment to recover and elevate the blood pressure and increase the blood oxygen.
Oxygen
There are several ways to give Oxygen. Nasal Cannula i.e. tubing inserted at the tip of nostrils is one of those several options.
- With severely low oxygen levels, you need a higher flow of oxygen by a mask.
- If you are severely ill, then you need a pulmonary embolism treatment through ventilator. Ventilator is a large tube placed into your windpipe (trachea) and connected to the breathing machine.
Blood-thinning Medication
These medications are given through your IV, injected directly in the skin, or mouth.
Heparin
It is usually the first medical treatment given and monitored in an IV and serves to save you from further clot formation.
Enoxaparin
Also called Lovenox or low molecular weight heparin is another medication given subcutaneously, or just under the skin. It is given after every 12 hrs through an injection.
Warfarin
Warfarin, also called Coumadin, is the oral blood-thinning medication which is usually given just after the heparin starts. This medication is given continuously until blood tests show warfarin is thinning the blood adequately.
Dopamine
Elevators of blood pressure are IV medications that are given to individuals with serious illness of low blood pressure. Dopamine which is also called Intropin is the most commonly used medications to elevate blood pressure into an acceptable range.
Hope this detailed study led you with enough learning for pulmonary embolism causes, symptoms and treatment. However, if you are not satisfied with medical pulmonary embolism treatments you can find many alternative treatments for the time when you observe pulmonary embolism symptoms appearing in you.
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