Pulmonary (lung) embolism is the blood clot that occurs especially in the leg veins and reaches the lungs. Rapid and early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism, which is a serious disease, reduces the risk of life. You can find answers to your questions such as what pulmonary embolism means, what are the causes of pulmonary embolism and how to treat pulmonary embolism in the continuation of the article.
What is Pulmonary Embolism (Pulmonary Embolism)?
Blood circulation in a healthy person, It takes place with two main circulatory systems, small and large blood circulation. With the small (pulmonary) blood circulation, oxygen-poor blood collected from the body is sent from the heart to the lungs, while with the large circulation, oxygen-rich blood is sent from the lungs to the whole body.
Blood is carried throughout the body through the veins. Various factors can cause blood to clot in the vein. The resulting clot is transported to different tissues or organs in the body, causing vascular occlusion. This situation is called embolism.
The formation of a blood clot in one of the arteries carrying blood from the heart to the lungs and the sudden occlusion of the vessel is called a pulmonary (lung) embolism. A clot in the veins that reaches the lungs can prevent the passage of blood to the lungs, causing deoxygenated blood circulation in the body. Being without oxygen for a long time can impair the functioning of many organs such as the brain, kidney, heart and stomach. One-third of progressive and untreated pulmonary embolism cases result in death. However, with early diagnosis and rapid intervention, pulmonary embolism can be treated.
What are the Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism?
The symptoms of pulmonary embolism, also known as pulmonary coagulation among the people, depend on the size of the clot, its formation. It differs according to the location and the presence of chronic diseases such as heart, blood pressure, asthma and diabetes. In cases of mild embolism, the patient does not show any symptoms, but severe symptoms begin to appear in pulmonary embolisms caused by large clots. In some patients, the embolism may develop suddenly and more severe symptoms may occur. The lower back, which is common in pulmonary embolism Some of the symptoms are:
- The most common symptom of pulmonary embolism is shortness of breath. Shortness of breath may be sudden onset or may develop gradually with effort.
- Chest pain radiates to the arm, jaw, neck, and shoulder. It can increase when eating, bending over, standing still or sudden movements. This pain is not relieved or relieved by rest.
- Cough
- Coughing up blood with cough (Hemoptysis)
- Increased respiratory rate
- Palpitations, heart palpitations acceleration or weakening of the beat
- Weakness, fatigue
- Feeling of fainting
- Excessive sweating
- Swelling, redness and pain in the leg
- Anxiety, restlessness, fear of death
- Back pain
- Dizziness
- Color changes in face and fingers
- Blue lips and nails
What Causes Pulmonary Embolism?
Pulmonary (lung) embolism is caused by a clot reaching the artery in the lung. Clots that cause pulmonary embolism usually come from the leg veins. This is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This condition can occur for different reasons other than deep vein thrombosis. The causes of pulmonary embolism can be listed as follows:
Traumas: Bone fractures and muscle ruptures caused by trauma injuries such as traffic, sports and work accidents can cause blood clots. why could it be. In addition, chemotherapy drugs and surgical methods applied for cancer treatment can lead to clot formation. Many types of cancer, especially ovarian and lung cancer, increase the risk of pulmonary embolism by increasing the number of platelets that allow blood to clot. SurgeriesMedicinesCongenital Blood DiseasesLong-Term Diseases
What are the Risk Factors for Pulmonary (Lung) Embolism?
Some risk factors may increase the risk of clots in the lung:
- Immobility: Bed rest Long journeys, staying in the same position or staying still for a long time slows down the blood flow, especially in the lower parts of the body, due to the effect of gravity. This situation is easy
- Smoking: Smoking can cause blood clot formation as it triggers many diseases.
- Obesity: Excess weight can trigger blood clot formation.
- Pregnancy: The increased weight of the mother and the weight of the baby puts pressure on the veins in the mother's pelvis. This pressure can cause blood clot formation by slowing down the blood flow in the legs.
- Hormone therapy: Medicines containing estrogen and testosterone increase the risk of clotting in the lungs.
- Family history: Presence of pulmonary embolism in the first degree relative The risk of developing pulmonary embolism is higher for those with coagulation problems and those with coagulation problems.
How is Pulmonary (Lung) Embolism Diagnosed?
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism are not the same in all cases. While some patients do not have obvious complaints, the complaints seen in some patients may be similar to different heart-lung problems. In these cases, it becomes difficult to diagnose the patient.
When you visit your doctor for your symptoms, the physician asks detailed questions about your general health and pre-existing conditions. As a result of the physical examination and family history by your specialist, some additional imaging and laboratory tests may be needed. The diagnosis of pulmonary (pulmonary) embolism is made according to the physical examination evaluations and the results of the examination.How is Pulmonary Embolism (Pulmonary Embolism) Treated?
Treatment of pulmonary embolism depends on the patient's medical history, the clinical course of the disease. It is determined according to the patient's table and the severity of the patient's complaints. Medication alone may be sufficient for patients with mild symptoms and low risk. However, surgical treatments can be applied in larger coagulation cases that do not respond to drug therapy. Rapid intervention is very important in pulmonary embolism.
Anticoagulant (anticoagulant) treatment: Anticoagulant drugs such as heparin and warfarin, which are popularly known as blood thinners, can be used in patients with good clinical condition. These drugs prevent the formation of clots in the blood. The treatment dose for the first 5 days, then the patient� It is continued for 3-6 months at the appropriate protective dose determined according to the condition. However, these drugs have a high risk of bleeding. For this reason, it is generally preferred in emergency and critical cases. In some patients, clot formation can be seen again after drug treatment. In such cases, the inferior vena cava filter can be applied. The vena cava inferior is the main vein where blood from the legs is collected. A filter is placed in this vein through a small incision made in the leg. This filter prevents clots that may occur in the legs from leaving the lungs.
Open surgery: In emergency cases where there is no response to medication and alternative treatments and the patient is life-threatening, the clogged pulmonary vessel can be cleaned of clots with open surgical methods.Pulmonary ( How to Prevent Lung) Embolism?
1. Maintain your ideal body weight.2. Exercise regularly.3. Take frequent breaks during long trips. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent blood clotting.5. Do not smoke.6. Use hormonal drugs under the supervision of a physician.7. Use compression stockings when you have to stand for a long time or have to rest. In cases where you show the symptoms of the disease and suspect the disease, you should consult your doctor.
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