Pulmonary embolism: what causes it and how to protect it?

What is pulmonary embolism?

All the blood in the human body flows from the venous system through the lungs, releasing carbon dioxide and saturating it with oxygen. When blood clots form in the veins due to certain health problems (damage to the wall of the blood vessels, blood flow, increased blood clotting), they can break off and travel to the lungs with blood. These mobile clots that block various blood vessels in the lungs are called emboli. The larger the blood clot in the blood vessel, the larger the embolus travels to the lungs and blocks a larger portion of the blood vessels in the lungs. Although inhaled air enters the part of the human lungs affected by emboli, the body does not get oxygen from there. Clogged blood vessels in the lungs increase blood pressure, overload the right ventricle, and in particularly severe cases, obstructive shock can kill a person.

How to recognize a pulmonary embolism in time?

Small clots that enter the lungs usually dissolve on their own, so a person may not feel any symptoms. However, if the pulmonary blood vessels are blocked by large emboli and the condition of the cardiovascular system is not good due to other diseases, the person begins to have shortness of breath, shortness of breath, chest pain, intensified heartbeat, possible coughing up blood, loss of consciousness. If these symptoms occur, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Can vaccines against COVID-19 infection cause pulmonary embolism?

There is no presumption that vaccines against COVID-19 infection can cause pulmonary embolism and no such data are available. We see blood clotting problems when a person has a severe form of COVID-19 disease. The patients are then given prophylactic anticoagulants. All the COVID-19 vaccines used in Lithuania are safe and cannot cause the disease themselves: they create immunity that protects the body.

What are the risk factors for pulmonary embolism?

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are clinical manifestations of a vascular disease called venous thromboembolism. However, the biggest risk factor for this disease is the various orthopedic surgeries and injuries. Also, the chances of pulmonary embolism are increased due to oncological diseases, some chemotherapeutic drugs, myocardial infarction, hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptives, chronic heart and lung diseases, etc.

What is the prevention of this disease?

The most important thing is to stay physically active and get enough fluids. People who are at high risk of developing or who already have a pulmonary embolism are given medications to reduce blood clotting. In patients with pulmonary embolism, these drugs are usually given for three months to a year, but some patients take blood thinners for life.