Everything You Should Know About Pulmonary Embolism

Diagnosis

A pulmonary embolism is difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, such as a heart attack, pneumonia, or a panic attack. In most cases, a physician will begin by performing a physical examination and asking a patient a series of questions about his or her health and symptoms. The following tests are available to check for a pulmonary embolism: an electrocardiogram (EKG) to test the heart’s electrical activity, an arterial blood gas study to measure gasses in the blood, an X-ray of the internal organs, a pulmonary scan to analyze the ventilation and architectural structure of the lungs, an ultrasound, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Other tests include a D-Dimer test, which is a blood test that can detect thrombosis, and a pulmonary angiogram to detect blood clots in the lungs.

Treatment

Most cases of a pulmonary embolism are treated by an anticoagulant medication or a blood thinner to prevent or reduce the blood clot. Blood thinners do not cause the blood to become thinner, but they may help to prevent new clots from forming and stop existing clots from getting bigger. People who are at a high risk of developing a pulmonary embolism may have to take blood thinners for the rest of their life whereas individuals with a lower risk may need to take them for only a few months. Some people are not able to take blood thinners and may need a vena cava filter to prevent a clot from reaching the lungs. Individuals who are exempt from taking a blood thinner include those who bleed easily or have atrial fibrillation.