Pulmonary Embolism

Overview

A pulmonary embolism happens when a blood vessel in your lungs becomes blocked. The blockage is usually caused by a blood clot. It can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism

Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:

difficulty breathing that comes on suddenly
chest pain that's worse when you breathe in
coughing up blood

You may also have pain and swelling in your leg (usually the calf) or arm. The skin may become red, blue, or darker than usual - if you have black or brown skin this may be harder to see. These are symptoms of a blood clot, also called DVT (deep vein thrombosis).

When and where to get medical help

If you have symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, you will need urgent medical help.

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:

you have difficulty breathing which comes on suddenly
you feel pain in your chest or upper back
your heart is beating very fast
someone has passed out

These could be signs of a pulmonary embolism or another serious condition.

Find your nearest A&E

Information:

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you're coughing up blood
you have any other symptoms you're worried about

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Treatment for a pulmonary embolism

If a GP thinks you've got a pulmonary embolism, you'll be sent to hospital for further tests and treatment.

At hospital, you may be given an injection of anticoagulant medicine before you get any test results.

Anticoagulants stop blood clots getting bigger and prevent new clots forming.

If tests confirm you have a pulmonary embolism, you'll start anticoagulant treatment.

This may involve anticoagulant tablets or injections, depending on the treatment that's most suitable for you.

You'll need to have anticoagulant treatment for at least 3 months.

You should make a full recovery from a pulmonary embolism if it's spotted and treated early.

How to reduce your risk of pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism usually happens when a blood clot travels up to your lungs, causing a blockage.

There are things you can do to lower your risk of getting a pulmonary embolism.

If you're staying in hospital being treated for another condition, your medical team should help reduce the risk of you getting DVT (deep vein thrombosis).

DVT can sometimes happen on long journeys when you are sitting in the same position for a long time. The risk of developing DVT is higher if you are travelling for 4 hours or more by plane, train or car.

There are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting DVT when travelling.