What Is Acute Pulmonary Embolism?
Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is the obstruction of lung blood vessels, usually by a blood clot.
A pulmonary embolism can:
- Block blood flow into the lungs and can be life threatening
- Form in the legs, break loose and then travel to the lung
Pulmonary embolism risks: blood clot
The following can increase the risk of developing blood clots that could cause pulmonary embolism (PE):
- Smoking
- Inactivity for long periods — such as following surgery or hospitalization, or during a long flight or car trip
- Cancer
If the blood clot is large enough, it may lead to sudden death.
Smaller clots can reduce the blood flow to the lungs and might cause:
