Embolisms are blockages in blood flow caused by solid or gaseous emboli, such as blood clots, air or fat bubbles. They can cause tissue death and permanent brain damage, and can be life-threatening. Symptoms vary depending on the location and size of the embolism. Different types of embolisms include thromboembolisms, arterial embolisms, cerebral embolisms, venous embolisms, and air embolisms. Surgery may be necessary for severe cases.
Embolisms are caused by blockages in the blood flow. The cause of the blockage is called an embolism and can be solid or gaseous. The embolus usually appears as a blood clot, air or fat bubble. It is carried through the bloodstream until it gets trapped and forms a blockage.
The embolus can travel through the narrowing arteries until it settles as the passages become smaller. Arteries also carry oxygen through the bloodstream to different parts of the body. Blood flow will be blocked and tissue will die due to lack of blood and oxygen.
Embolisms can occur to the brain due to lack of blood and oxygen. Permanent damage to the brain can occur due to these embolisms, and embolisms in the brain can also cause a stroke. If the embolisms are small enough, there may be no harm to the body, but large embolisms are a life-threatening condition.
The severity of embolisms depends on how big they are and where in the body they appear. Embolisms in the coronary artery of the heart can cause a heart attack. Symptoms can include severe pain and muscle spasms or twitching. This may be accompanied by numbness or a strange tingling sensation. The skin may become very pale or mottled.
The symptoms of an embolism are not always painful. If embolisms occur in the leg, symptoms may include a slight fever in the body at the site of the embolism. A swelling may appear in one leg but not the other. There may also be a red, rash-like appearance on the leg.
There are many different types of embolism. Most are named after the cause of the blockade. The most common is a thromboembolism, a blood clot that blocks blood flow to a major organ. Arterial embolisms usually occur due to heart disease or irregular heart rhythms. As the name suggests, these blockages occur in the arteries.
A cerebral embolism is the name given to blood clots in the arteries of the brain. A venous embolism is caused by small particles of bone marrow or fat leaking out due to a fractured bone. Deep vein thrombosis can occur due to pulmonary embolisms. A blood clot in the leg will travel through the bloodstream to the heart. The clot can lodge in the pulmonary arteries and cause death.
A rare form of embolism is caused by an air bubble. Air embolism occurs when an air bubble becomes trapped in the blood. There are factors that can increase the risk of such an embolism, including damage to the arterial wall and certain blood disorders. Surgery is needed if there is a severe blockage.
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