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Chest pain when I breathe
Loss of appetite
Have chest pain
Tachycardia
Heart palpitations
Chest pain caused by exercise
Lightheadedness when I am standing
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What is Pulmonary Embolism?
Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition caused by a blood clot blocking one or more arteries in the lung. The blood clot usually forms elsewhere in the body, such as in a vein in the leg, travels through the bloodstream, and gets trapped in the lung artery. Risk factors include a sedentary lifestyle, blood clotting disorders, cigarette smoking, and obesity or being overweight.
Typical Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism
- Wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing
- Producing phlegm that contains blood
- Chest pain when coughing or during deep breathing
- Feel unsteady or floating when I am standing
- Fast heartbeat (more than 100 beats a minute)
- Bluish or pale skin
- Fainting
- Losing consciousness during a physical activity
Diagnostic Questions for Pulmonary Embolism
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you experience wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing?
- Are you producing phlegm that contains blood?
- Do you have sharp chest pain when coughing or taking a deep breath?
- Do you feel dizzy or floaty when standing?
- Have you been experiencing a fast heartbeat (more than 100 beats a minute)?
Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency that requires hospital treatment. Treatment involves medications to prevent worsening, stop further clots from forming, and break down large clots. Surgery or other procedures to remove the clot from the artery or prevent it from reaching the lungs may be done in life-threatening cases.
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Whistling when I breathe
- Respiratory wheeze
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Symptoms Related to Pulmonary Embolism
Diseases Related to Pulmonary Embolism
FAQs
Q.
Sudden Chest Pain? Why Pulmonary Embolisms Occur & Vital Medical Steps
A.
Sudden chest pain with shortness of breath can signal a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that often starts in the leg, travels to the lungs, blocks blood flow, and strains the heart; leg swelling or pain may come first. If suspected, seek emergency care now for tests like CT angiography and D-dimer and for prompt treatment with blood thinners, oxygen, or clot-busting therapy when indicated. Risk is higher with immobility, recent surgery, cancer, estrogen use, pregnancy, smoking, obesity, heart disease, or prior clots; there are several factors to consider that can change diagnosis, treatment length, and prevention, so see the complete details below to guide your next steps.
References:
* Konstantinides SV, Meyer G, Becattini C, et al. 2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism developed in collaboration with the European Respiratory Society (ERS). Eur Heart J. 2020 Jan 21;41(4):543-603. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz405. Epub 2019 Aug 31. PMID: 31504429.
* Chaparro L, Al-Samkari H, Connors JM. Risk factors for pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Thromb Res. 2021 Jan;197:179-192. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2020.10.038. Epub 2020 Oct 30. PMID: 33187843.
* Müller-Schall T, Mücke MM, Al-Samman B, et al. Diagnosis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2022 Nov 11;119(45):760-770. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.m2022.0298. PMID: 36629731; PMCID: PMC9931707.
* Agnelli G, Becattini C. Pulmonary embolism: an update on diagnosis and management. J Thromb Haemost. 2022 Aug;20(8):1733-1741. doi: 10.1111/jth.15802. Epub 2022 Jun 30. PMID: 35770511.
* Lombardi R, Scoccia E, Bellusci L, et al. The Pathophysiology of Pulmonary Embolism: A Clinical Review. J Clin Med. 2023 May 30;12(11):3799. doi: 10.3390/jcm12113799. PMID: 37298642; PMCID: PMC10254257.
Q.
Air Hunger? Why Your Lungs are Starving: Pulmonary Embolism Next Steps
A.
Air hunger with sudden shortness of breath or chest pain can signal a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot blocking flow in the lungs that can become life threatening but is highly treatable when caught early. If symptoms are sudden or severe, seek emergency care now; there are several factors to consider, including risk factors, how it’s diagnosed, and which treatments or follow up may be right for you. See below for complete next steps and important details that could change what you should do today.
References:
* Konstantinides SV, Meyer G, Becattini R, Bueno H, Geersing GE, Harjola VP, Hentrich M, Klok JG, Lankeit F, Manerich M, Mirabelli C, Mittal A, Roffi M, Schirren J, Schulman S, Vlachopoulos C, Zomp J, Cosmi B, Mazzolai L, Monreal M, Ní Mhurchú B, Prandoni P, Righini M. 2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism developed in collaboration with the European Respiratory Society (ERS). Eur Heart J. 2020 Jan 21;41(4):543-603. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz405. Epub 2019 Aug 31. PMID: 31478140.
* Stevens SM, Woller SC, Kreuziger LB, Douketis JD, Cushman M, Streiff MB, Lim W. Management of Pulmonary Embolism: A Clinical Review. JAMA. 2020 Feb 4;323(5):472-482. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.20638. PMID: 32017295.
* Haddadin F, Shweihat Y, Patel A, Patel A, Alsaiari R, Al-Qadi M. Acute Pulmonary Embolism: From Diagnosis to Treatment. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2023 Apr;48(4):101569. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101569. Epub 2023 Feb 18. PMID: 36806509.
* Paganini S, Becattini R. Long-term outcomes after pulmonary embolism. Eur Respir Rev. 2022 Mar 31;31(163):210204. doi: 10.1183/16000617.0204-2021. Print 2022 Mar 31. PMID: 35359735.
* Klok FA, Ní Mhurchú B, D'Hayer B, den Exter PL, Lankeit M, Schirren J, Konstantinides SV, Jiménez D, Zomp E. Post-Pulmonary Embolism Syndrome. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2020 Apr;46(3):362-371. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1698741. Epub 2019 Nov 14. PMID: 31726553.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Doherty S. Pulmonary embolism An update. Aust Fam Physician. 2017 Nov;46(11):816-820. PMID: 29101916.
https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/november/pulmonary-embolism/Essien EO, Rali P, Mathai SC. Pulmonary Embolism. Med Clin North Am. 2019 May;103(3):549-564. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.12.013. PMID: 30955521.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025712518301780?via%3DihubPulmonary embolism. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018 May 17;4:18031. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2018.31. PMID: 29770792.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201831