Pulmonology focuses on diagnosing and treating lung and airway conditions such as asthma, COPD, and pneumonia, as well as overall respiratory health.
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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.
Because the lungs are most affected, trouble breathing is the main sign of this condition.
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.
The heart and blood vessels respond quickly when a clot blocks the lung arteries.
Because most pulmonary embolisms start in the legs, there are often signs of a clot in the leg.
Doctors group the main risk factors for blood clots into three categories, called Virchow’s Triad.
Some people are born with a higher risk of clotting, while others develop risks because of things that happen in their lives.
Injuries to the body can strongly increase the risk of blood clots.
Changes in hormone levels can have a big effect on how the blood clots.
Your daily habits and body weight can add to your risk of developing blood clots.
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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.
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