Pulmonary embolisms are the third leading cause of death in the United States. When detected, however, the survival rate is good. Several symptoms typically lead to a pulmonary embolism diagnosis. They may include a sudden shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain or tightness, a bad cough, coughing up blood, swelling, leg pain, dizziness and sometimes loss of consciousness, all of which can lead to death.
The most common cause of pulmonary embolism is deep vein thrombosis or DVT, in which a blood clot blocks a deep vein, often in the arm or leg. When someone has a history of DVT or pulmonary embolism, there is a high risk of return. Sometimes cancer treatments cause pulmonary embolisms or DVTs. Other causes include obesity, pregnancy, trauma or being immobilized after surgery. There are many other recognized markers of risk for venous thromboembolic disease, including:
Symptoms can be similar to that of a heart attack. They include sharp pain in the chest, tenderness of the chest, back pain, shoulder pain, abdominal pain, fainting, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, pain when breathing, wheezing and any new cardiac arrhythmia.
If you have a loved one who died due to the negligence of a physician, you may be entitled to a monetary recovery. Contact a Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney who has handled many cases where a pulmonary embolism was not detected. All consultations are free and there is no fee unless a recovery is made. Call us today at 412-261-2620.
