Description:

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a blocked blood vessel in your lungs. It can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

Urgent advice: Get an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you have difficulty breathing which comes on suddenly
you're coughing up blood

These can be symptoms of pulmonary embolism.

You may also have pain, redness and swelling in one of your legs (usually the calf). These are symptoms of a blood clot, also called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) .

You can call 111 or check your symptoms on 111 online .

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:

you have severe difficulty breathing
you feel pain in your chest or upper back
your heart is beating very fast
someone has passed out

These could be signs of a pulmonary embolism or another serious condition.

Find your nearest A&E

Treating a pulmonary embolism

If a GP thinks you've got a pulmonary embolism, you'll be sent to hospital for further tests and treatment.

At hospital, you'll probably be given an injection of anticoagulant medicine before you get any test results.

Anticoagulants stop blood clots getting bigger and prevent new clots forming.

If tests confirm you have a pulmonary embolism, you'll continue with anticoagulant injections for at least 5 days.

You'll also need to take anticoagulant tablets for at least 3 months.

You should make a full recovery from a pulmonary embolism if it's spotted and treated early.

Reduce your pulmonary embolism risk

A pulmonary embolism often happens when part of the blood clot dislodges itself from your leg and travels up to your lungs, causing a blockage.

There are measures you can take to lower your risk of getting a pulmonary embolism.

If you're being treated in hospital for another condition, your medical team should take steps to prevent DVT.

A DVT can occasionally develop on journeys lasting more than 6 hours.

To reduce your risk of getting a travel-related DVT:

Do

sit comfortably in your seat and lie back as much as possible
wear loose-fitting clothing
make sure you have plenty of leg room
drink water regularly
take regular breaks from sitting
bend and straighten your legs, feet and toes every 30 minutes while seated
press the balls of your feet down hard against the floor every so often
wear flight socks

Don’t

do not sit for long periods without moving
do not drink alcohol
do not drink too much coffee and other caffeine-based drinks
do not take sleeping pills

Page last reviewed: 22 April 2020
Next review due: 22 April 2023