Embolism comes from the Greek word émbolos, meaning plug or stopper. So in an embolism, a clot develops and circulates in the body via the blood. A pulmonary embolism refers to a blockage in the pulmonary artery, which supplies blood to the lungs. It affects approximately 1 in 1000 people in the country annually. The blood clot does not let the oxygen reach the lung tissues, which can be life-threatening. Hence, timely management is crucial.

Symptoms
The symptoms of pulmonary embolism vary dramatically among individuals, depending on the degree of lung involvement, an underlying heart or lung disease, and the clot size. Common symptoms are:

Chest pain
You may feel like you’re experiencing a heart attack. This pain is typically sharp and endured when you breathe deeply. The pain does not let you take a deep breath. You may feel it when you lean over, bend, or cough.
Shortness of breath
It typically starts suddenly, and you may have trouble catching your breath when resting. It aggravates during physical activity.
Fainting
You may pass out if your blood pressure or heart rate drops suddenly. It is known as syncope.

Other symptoms that you may experience are:

Cough with bloody or blood-streaked mucus
Heartbeat irregularities or rapid pulse
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Excessive sweating
Elevated body temperature (fever)
Swelling or pain in the legs (usually in the back of the lower leg)
Skin discoloration or clamminess, known as cyanosis

Causes
Blood clots may form because of several reasons. However, pulmonary embolism is caused by deep vein thrombosis, a condition wherein the blood clot develops in the veins deep in the body. The blood clots that cause pulmonary embolism start in the pelvis or legs.

Blood clots developing in the body’s deep veins have several causes, such as:

Damage or injuries like muscle tears or bone fractures that causes damage to blood vessels, resulting in clots.
Some health issues are also responsible for causing pulmonary embolism. Treatments that involve surgery often result in limited movement or short-term bed rest, making clotting more likely. Further, some cancer therapies can also have side effects like clotting in the blood. It aggravates your risk for pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
During inactivity periods, gravity makes blood amass in the body’s lowest areas, resulting in blood clots. It can occur if you lie in bed post-illness or sit in one place for long periods of time.

Treatment and management
Treatment and management of pulmonary embolism aims at:

Halting clot growth
Inhibiting new clot formation
Extracting or eliminating existing clot

The first step involves treating shock and offering oxygen therapy. Further, prescription treatments like warfarin, enoxaparin, or heparin help with blood thinning and avoiding subsequent clotting.

Doctors may also recommend thrombolytics or clot-bursting treatments, but they can put you at the risk of excessive bleeding. Some common thrombolytics doctors may recommend are Eminase, Retavase, and Activase. The healthcare professional may also suggest dopamine to boost pressure if the patient has low blood pressure. The patient will have to take treatments continuously for an indefinite duration, usually three months.