Home›PULMONOLOGY

Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms and Risk Factors

Identifying sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, and coughing up blood

Pulmonology focuses on diagnosing and treating lung and airway conditions such as asthma, COPD, and pneumonia, as well as overall respiratory health.

We're Here to Help.
Get in Touch.

Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.

Doctors
GDPR

Symptoms and Risk Factors

Pulmonary embolism can be hard to recognize because its symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack, panic attack, or pneumonia. How severe the symptoms are depends on the size of the clot and the person’s heart and lung health. Spotting the signs early is the best way to prevent serious problems. At Liv Hospital, we teach our patients to watch for sudden changes in breathing or chest pain, especially if they have risk factors. Knowing how genetics, lifestyle, and medical events work together helps us assess risk and make a quick diagnosis.

Icon LIV Hospital

Respiratory Symptoms

PULMONOLOGY

Because the lungs are most affected, trouble breathing is the main sign of this condition.

  • Sudden Shortness of Breath: Dyspnea is the most common symptom. It typically comes on within seconds or minutes. The patient may feel “air hunger” or an inability to take a deep breath. This occurs even at rest or with minimal exertion.
  • Rapid Breathing: Tachypnea, or a fast respiratory rate, is a reflex response to low oxygen levels and the mechanical irritation of the pulmonary vasculature.

Hypoxia: Low oxygen saturation levels detected by pulse oximetry are common, though a normal reading does not rule out a PE. The mismatch between ventilation (air entering the lungs) and perfusion (blood flow) causes this drop in oxygen.

Icon 1 LIV Hospital

Chest Pain and Cardiac Signs

PULMONOLOGY

The heart and blood vessels respond quickly when a clot blocks the lung arteries.

  • Pleuritic Chest Pain: This is a sharp, stabbing pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing. It indicates that the clot has caused irritation or infarction of the lung tissue near the pleura (the lung’s lining).
  • Angina-like Pain: In cases of massive PE, the pain may be substernal and crushing, mimicking a heart attack. This is caused by right ventricular ischemia as the heart struggles to pump against the blocked artery.
  • Palpitations: A rapid or irregular heartbeat (tachycardia) is a typical physiological response to maintain cardiac output in the setting of obstruction and hypoxia.
  • Cough and Hemoptysis: A cough may be dry or productive. Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) is a specific but less common sign, usually indicating pulmonary infarction, in which lung tissue dies due to a lack of blood flow.

Systemic and Leg Symptoms

Because most pulmonary embolisms start in the legs, there are often signs of a clot in the leg.

  • Leg Swelling and Pain: Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include swelling, pain, tenderness, warmth, and redness in one leg, typically the calf or thigh. However, many patients with PE may not have clinical signs of DVT at the time of diagnosis.
  • Lightheadedness and Syncope: Fainting (syncope) or feeling lightheaded can be the presenting symptom of a massive pulmonary embolism. This occurs due to a sudden drop in cardiac output and blood pressure, reducing blood flow to the brain. Sudden collapse without other explanations should always raise suspicion for PE.
  • Anxiety: Many patients feel very anxious or have a sense that something is seriously wrong. This is often due to the sudden stress and low oxygen levels.
PULMONOLOGY

Virchow's Triad and Pathogenesis

Doctors group the main risk factors for blood clots into three categories, called Virchow’s Triad.

  • Stasis of Blood Flow: When blood moves slowly, it is more likely to clot. This occurs during prolonged immobility, such as long plane or car rides, post-surgical bed rest, or paralysis.
  • Endothelial Injury: Damage to the inner lining of the vascular wall triggers the clotting cascade. This can result from trauma, surgery (especially orthopedic surgeries like hip or knee replacements), or the placement of central venous catheters.
  • Hypercoagulability: a state in which blood is more prone to clotting. It can be due to genetic conditions, cancer, pregnancy, or certain medications like birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

Genetic and Acquired Risk Factors

Some people are born with a higher risk of clotting, while others develop risks because of things that happen in their lives.

  • Factor V Leiden Mutation: This is the most common inherited thrombophilia. It makes Factor V resistant to inactivation by the body’s natural anticoagulants, thereby increasing the risk of clotting.
  • Prothrombin Gene Mutation: A mutation that causes the body to produce too much prothrombin, a clotting protein.
  • Deficiencies: Deficiencies in Protein C, Protein S, or Antithrombin are rare but potent genetic risk factors.
  • Cancer: Active cancer is a significant risk factor. Malignant tumors secrete pro-coagulant substances, and chemotherapy treatments can further increase thrombotic risk. This is often referred to as Trousseau’s syndrome.

Surgery and Trauma

Injuries to the body can strongly increase the risk of blood clots.

  • Orthopedic Surgery: Hip and knee replacements carry a high risk due to the combination of vein injury during surgery and post-operative immobility.
  • Major Abdominal Surgery: Procedures for cancer or extensive abdominal repair increase the risk of VTE.
  • Trauma: Fractures of the long bones (femur, tibia), pelvic fractures, and spinal cord injuries significantly elevate the risk of fat embolism or thrombotic embolism.

Pregnancy and hormonal Factors

Changes in hormone levels can have a big effect on how the blood clots.

  • Pregnancy and Postpartum: The hypercoagulable state of pregnancy is a physiological adaptation to prevent hemorrhage during delivery, but it increases the risk of VTE. The risk remains elevated for several weeks postpartum. The pressure of the uterus on the pelvic veins also contributes to stasis.
  • Oral Contraceptives: Estrogen-containing birth control pills increase the production of clotting factors. The risk is higher in women who also smoke or are over 35.
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy: Used for menopausal symptoms, HRT also carries a venous thrombosis risk similar to oral contraceptives.

Lifestyle and Modifiable Risks

Your daily habits and body weight can add to your risk of developing blood clots.

  • Obesity: Excess body weight puts pressure on the veins in the pelvis and legs and is often associated with a chronic inflammatory state that promotes clotting.
  • Smoking: Damages the lining of blood vessels and increases platelet stickiness, promoting clot formation.
  • Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of regular physical activity contributes to poor venous circulation and stasis.

Book a Free Certified Online
Doctor Consultation

Clinics/branches
GDPR

Related Doctors

Op. MD. Yaman Khoraki Liv Hospital Ulus Op. MD. Yaman Khoraki Thoracic Surgery Prof. MD. Ferah Ece Liv Hospital Ulus Prof. MD. Ferah Ece Respirology Spec. MD. Mehmet Aydoğan Liv Hospital Ulus Spec. MD. Mehmet Aydoğan Respirology Spec. MD. Recep Dodurgalı Liv Hospital Ulus Spec. MD. Recep Dodurgalı Respirology Assoc. Prof. MD. Ömer Ayten Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Assoc. Prof. MD. Ömer Ayten Respirology Prof. MD. Cengiz Özdemir Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Cengiz Özdemir Respirology Prof. MD. Levent Dalar Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Levent Dalar Respirology Assoc. Prof. MD. Akın Yıldızhan Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Assoc. Prof. MD. Akın Yıldızhan Thoracic Surgery Asst. Prof. MD. Aysu Sinem Koç Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Asst. Prof. MD. Aysu Sinem Koç Pulmonology Asst. Prof. MD. Zeynep Atam Taşdemir Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Asst. Prof. MD. Zeynep Atam Taşdemir Pulmonology Prof. MD. Adalet Demir Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Prof. MD. Adalet Demir Thoracic Surgery Prof. MD. Adil Can Güngen Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Prof. MD. Adil Can Güngen Respirology Prof. MD. Cemal Asım Kutlu Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Prof. MD. Cemal Asım Kutlu Thoracic Surgery Assoc. Prof. MD. Engin Aynacı Liv Hospital Topkapı Assoc. Prof. MD. Engin Aynacı Respirology Op. MD. Semih Buluklu Liv Hospital Topkapı Op. MD. Semih Buluklu Thoracic Surgery Spec. MD. Gudrat Badalov Liv Hospital Topkapı Spec. MD. Gudrat Badalov Respirology Prof. MD. Kudret Ekiz Liv Hospital Ankara Prof. MD. Kudret Ekiz Respirology Spec. MD. Berna Botan Yıldırım Liv Hospital Ankara Spec. MD. Berna Botan Yıldırım Respirology Spec. MD. Burça Takar Liv Hospital Ankara Spec. MD. Burça Takar Respirology Spec. MD. Didem Katar Liv Hospital Ankara Spec. MD. Didem Katar Respirology Spec. MD. Mine Önal Liv Hospital Ankara Spec. MD. Mine Önal Respirology Prof. MD. İbrahim Can Kürkçüoğlu Liv Hospital Gaziantep Prof. MD. İbrahim Can Kürkçüoğlu Thoracic Surgery Spec. MD. Yeliz Karakan Liv Hospital Gaziantep Spec. MD. Yeliz Karakan Pulmonology Spec. MD. İsmail Doğan Liv Hospital Gaziantep Spec. MD. İsmail Doğan Pulmonology Spec. MD. Aziz Uluışık Liv Hospital Samsun Spec. MD. Aziz Uluışık Respirology Spec. MD. Saliha Ercan Bütün Liv Hospital Samsun Spec. MD. Saliha Ercan Bütün Pulmonology Spec. MD. FİRUZ MEMMEDOV Liv Bona Dea Hospital Bakü Spec. MD. FİRUZ MEMMEDOV Pulmonology Prof. MD. Adnan Sayar Liv Hospital Ulus + Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Adnan Sayar Thoracic Surgery Prof. MD. Erkan Çakır Liv Hospital Ulus + Liv Hospital Vadistanbul + Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Prof. MD. Erkan Çakır Pediatric Respirology Prof. MD. Songül Büyükkale Liv Hospital Ulus + Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Songül Büyükkale Thoracic Surgery Spec. MD. Çiğdem Obuz Topuz Liv Hospital Ulus + Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Spec. MD. Çiğdem Obuz Topuz Thoracic Surgery

30 Years of
Excellence

Trusted Worldwide

With patients from across the globe, we bring over three decades of medical

Group 346 LIV Hospital

Reviews from 9,651

4,9

Worth a look

Related Videos
Departments
Our Doctors
News

Was this article helpful?

Was this article helpful?

I didn't like it
I LIKE

We're Here to Help.
Get in Touch.

Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.

Doctors
GDPR

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the first signs of a pulmonary embolism?

The most common first signs are sudden shortness of breath that worsens with exertion and sharp chest pain that hurts when you breathe in.

 A massive pulmonary embolism can cause death instantly or within minutes of onset due to cardiac arrest, which is why immediate emergency medical attention is required at the first sign of symptoms.

Yes, small clots may cause no symptoms or very mild symptoms that are mistaken for anxiety or a respiratory infection, yet they still pose a risk for future, larger events.

 No, while deep vein thrombosis in the leg often causes pain and swelling, a clot can break off and travel to the lungs without ever causing noticeable symptoms in the leg.

 It typically feels like a sharp, stabbing pain under the breastbone or on one side of the chest, which gets sharper and more intense when you take a deep breath, cough, or bend over.

Spine Hospital of Louisiana

RELATED VIDEOS

RELATED VIDEOS

Need Help? Chat with our medical team

Let's Talk on WhatsApp

📌

Get instant answers from our medical team. No forms, no waiting — just tap below to start chatting now.

or call us at +90 530 510 67 91
liv-hospital-seeklogo
+90 530 510 67 91
Facebook-f X-twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin-in Tiktok

How helpful was it?

helpful
GDPR
helpful
GDPR
helpful
GDPR
Contact Us
Contact Us
Medical Second Opinion