What is pulmonary embolism and how to recognize the signs?

The recent death of actress Catherine O’Hara was a shock to fans. The 71-year-old’s cause of death was a pulmonary embolism with cancer as the underlying cause. Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common cardiac problems in the world.

It’s a blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to the lungs – a life-threatening condition. There are more than 100,000 deaths related to pulmonary embolism each year in the U.S., or one death every six minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The No. 1 thing is if you expect you have a pulmonary embolism, you need to go to the emergency department right away,” said Sierra Ard, a nurse practitioner at Tidelands Health Cardiology locations in Andrews and Hemingway.

Here’s what to know about the condition and your risk factors:

Sudden shortness of breath is one of the first and most common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. Get medical attention right away, especially if you also experience any of these symptoms:

• Sharp chest pains that are worse with deep breaths
• Bloody phlegm, which is a mixture of mucus and saliva coughed up from the lower airways
• High heart rate
• Lightheadedness

It often starts as a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, in the leg, which travels to the lung. Symptoms of DVT include:

• Swelling in one leg over the other or in the arms
• Tenderness behind the knee
• Localized swelling that doesn’t improve with elevation
• Redness or warmth

Some groups are more likely to experience a pulmonary embolism, including those who:

• Are over the age of 60
• Have a comorbidity like cancer or diabetes
• Are overweight
• Are pregnant

People who don’t have any of those risk factors can also experience a clot if they are immobile for long periods, like traveling for hours in a car or an airplane. People who have recently had surgery, which can cause trauma to veins and come with long periods of immobility, are also at a higher risk. And supplemental estrogen, via birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, has also been shown to increase risk.

Treatment for a pulmonary embolism usually includes blood thinners or a surgical procedure to remove the clot.

There are steps you can take to help minimize your risk of developing the condition. Stay active – incorporate plenty of physical activity into your daily routine. If you know you’ll be sitting or not moving for several hours, move your arms and feet for a few minutes every hour or wear compression stockings to help blood flow. Some other good habits:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Avoid crossing your legs or wearing tight clothing
• Limit alcohol, caffeine and tobacco use

MyCarolinaLife.com is a news service of Tidelands Health.