A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life threatening condition, caused by a blockage in the pulmonary artery in the lungs (NHS Choices, 2011). Symptoms of a PE come in different forms such as coughing, feeling faint breathlessness and chest pains (NHS Choices, 2011), however it may not contain any symptoms in which case may be very hard to detect (Patient.co.uk, 2012).
Normally the clot that causes PE does not originate in the lungs, but is most likely from a clot caused by deep vain thrombosis (DVT), that has broken off and traveled through the body and became lodged within the pulmonary artery (Nhlbi.nih.gov, 2011).
The symptoms of a PE may differ depending on the size of the embolism in question. Coughing up blood, breathlessness and chest pains are all common, however a large embolism my cause shock and sudden collapse. In some cases, small embolisms may not produce any symptoms (Bupa.co.uk, 2012).
References
NHS Coices. 2011. Pulmonary embolism - NHS Choices. [online] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pulmonary-embolism/Pages/Introduction.aspx [Accessed: 31 Aug 2013].
Patient.co.uk. 2012. Pulmonary Embolism | Health | Patient.co.uk. [online] Available at: http://www.patient.co.uk/health/pulmonary-embolism-leaflet [Accessed: 31 Aug 2013].
Bupa.co.uk. 2012. Pulmonary embolism | Bupa UK. [online] Available at: http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/p/pulmonary-embolism#textBlock277051 [Accessed: 9 Sept 2013].
