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Blood clots in the lungs, also known as pulmonary thromboembolism or pulmonary embolism, can cause breathing problems, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and even sudden death. Symptoms may develop suddenly or over time and can be caused by blood clots originating in the legs. Swelling in one leg can also be a symptom of a blood clot in the lungs.
Blood clots in the lungs can cause a variety of symptoms that can appear suddenly in patients or develop slowly over time. This condition, also known as pulmonary thromboembolism or pulmonary embolism (PE), most commonly causes breathing problems. It can also cause chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and even sudden death in some cases. Often, blood clots found in the lungs originate in the veins in the legs; as a result, many affected patients also have redness and swelling in one of their legs.
One of the most common symptoms of blood clots in the lungs is difficulty breathing. Many people are short of breath and feel like they can’t get enough air. The sensation often causes the person to breathe more rapidly, a condition also known as tachypnea.
Other symptoms may involve other parts of the body. Patients often have tachycardia or increased heart rate. Some people can develop a low-grade fever in response to the blood clot. Also, some patients may have sharp, stabbing chest pain that is more severe when they take a deep breath.
Occasionally, a large blood clot in the lung, called a saddle embolus, can significantly block blood flow. This can cause serious symptoms such as chest pain, weakness, and irregular heartbeats. The stress caused by this state can prevent the heart from pumping blood around the body and can be fatal.
Swelling in a leg can also be a symptom or precursor of a blood clot in the lungs. Blood clots can develop in the veins of the legs due to a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The blood clot, or thrombus, can break off and travel to the lungs. Symptoms of a DVT can include leg redness, leg swelling, and pain, usually in only one leg at a time.
Symptoms may be less severe in patients who chronically have small clots in the lungs than in people who have one large clot. Instead of experiencing the sudden onset of shortness of breath and chest pain, those with small clots may have a progressive onset of greater breathing difficulties. At first they may feel short of breath during exercise, but as the disease progresses they may find it difficult to breathe even at rest.
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