Can you feel embolism

Alternative Names Venous thromboembolism; Lung blood clot; Blood clot - lung; Embolus; Tumor embolus; Embolism - pulmonary; DVT - pulmonary embolism; Thrombosis - pulmonary embolism; Pulmonary thromboembolism; PE Causes A pulmonary embolus is most often caused by a blood clot that develops in a vein outside the lungs.

A pulmonary embolus may occur: After childbirth After heart attack, heart surgery, or stroke After severe injuries, burns, or fractures of the hips or thigh bone After surgery, most commonly bone, joint, or brain surgery During or after a long plane or car ride If you have cancer If you take birth control pills or estrogen therapy Long-term bed rest or staying in one position for a long time Disorders that may lead to blood clots include: Diseases of the immune system that make it harder for the blood to clot.

Inherited disorders that make the blood more likely to clot. One such disorder is antithrombin III deficiency. Symptoms Main symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include chest pain that may be any of the following: Under the breastbone or on one side Sharp or stabbing Burning, aching, or a dull, heavy sensation Often gets worse with deep breathing You may bend over or hold your chest in response to the pain Other symptoms may include: Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting Low oxygen level in blood hypoxemia Fast breathing or wheezing Fast heart rate Feeling anxious Leg pain, redness, or swelling Low blood pressure Sudden cough, possibly coughing up blood or bloody mucus Shortness of breath that starts suddenly during sleep or on exertion Low grade fever Bluish skin cyanosis -- less common Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical history.

You may need to stay in the hospital: You will receive medicines to thin the blood and make it less likely your blood will form more clots. In cases of severe, life-threatening pulmonary embolism, treatment may involve dissolving the clot. This is called thrombolytic therapy. You will receive medicines to dissolve the clot. Whether or not you need to stay in the hospital, you will likely need to take medicines at home to thin the blood: You may be given pills to take or you may need to give yourself injections.

For some medicines, you will need blood tests to monitor your dosage. How long you need to take these medicines depends mostly on the cause and size of your blood clot. Your provider will talk to you about the risk of bleeding problems when you take these medicines.

Outlook Prognosis How well a person recovers from a pulmonary embolus can be hard to predict. It often depends on: What caused the problem in the first place for example, cancer, major surgery, or an injury The size of the blood clot in the lungs If the blood clot dissolves over time Some people can develop long-term heart and lung problems. Death is possible in people with a severe pulmonary embolism. When to Contact a Medical Professional Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number such as , if you have symptoms of pulmonary embolus.

Prevention Blood thinners may be prescribed to help prevent DVT in people at high risk, or those who are undergoing high-risk surgery. References Goldhaber SZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Editorial team.

Find a Doctor Request a Callback. Share This Page: Post Tweet. Find a Program or Service. Blood clots are a serious issue, as they can be life threatening. Symptoms of blood clots can vary. A blood clot that shows up in one of the major veins in your body is called deep vein thrombosis DVT. This leads to a serious and potentially fatal condition known as pulmonary embolism.

These symptoms are especially indicative of a blood clot when they occur in only one leg. There are some other conditions and factors that could explain these symptoms, however. To help distinguish a potential blood clot from other causes, Thomas Maldonado, MD, vascular surgeon and medical director of the Venous Thromboembolic Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, offered some more detailed thoughts on what someone might feel if they have a blood clot.

For one, the pain might remind you of a severe muscle cramp or charley horse. If icing or putting your feet up makes the swelling go down, you may have a muscle injury. With a blood clot, your leg may also feel warm as the clot worsens. You may even notice a slight reddish or bluish hue to your skin. Blood clots can also form in veins that are closer to the skin, known as superficial venous thrombosis, and cause a syndrome called superficial thrombophlebitis.

These can be caused by injury to the skin, including having an intravenous IV line placed, or other risk factors similar to those causing a DVT. Your doctor will examine you and may use an ultrasound to differentiate between a superficial blood clot and a DVT. Blood clots may be more common in the lower legs, but they can happen in other parts of your body, too. Where clots form and where they end up influence which symptoms you have and the consequences.

For example, when a blood clot forms in the arteries of the heart and blocks blood flow, it can cause a heart attack. Or, a blood clot could travel to your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. Both can be life threatening and have similar symptoms.

According to Maldonado, the chest pain that comes with a pulmonary embolism may feel like sharp pains that get worse with each breath. This pain may also be accompanied by:. A pain in your chest that feels more like an elephant is sitting on you may be a sign of a potential cardiac event, such as heart attack or angina. The pain that goes along with a potential heart attack may center on your chest.

It might also radiate to the left part of your jaw or your left shoulder and arm. Is your chest pain from congestion or wheezing? If you think that you or your child may have a blood clot in the leg, seeing a doctor that day may help you avoid complications. Quick care may help you ward off a pulmonary embolism, which may be deadly. The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician.

Always consult your physician for individual care.