Pulmonary embolism symptoms: What are the early signs of pulmonary embolism?

Overview: What does pulmonary embolism feel like?

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot stuck in the lung’s arteries. The clot blocks blood from flowing to the lungs to pick up oxygen to carry to the rest of the body. Usually, the blood clot forms in the legs (called deep vein thrombosis or DVT). It then breaks and travels to the arteries in the lungs. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency. Prompt treatment is critical. If untreated or caught too late, 30% of people with PE will die, but more than 90% will survive if caught and treated in time. Unfortunately, the symptoms of pulmonary embolism are also common signs of other medical conditions. 

How does it feel? Usually, it feels hard to breathe, but the severity is highly variable. It may not be too hard to breathe, or it may seem like a desperate struggle. Typically, people breathe faster, and their chest may hurt. They cough, sometimes coughing up blood. Some people will have no symptoms or mild symptoms, even with a severe pulmonary embolism. Some people are only diagnosed by accident.

What are the early signs of pulmonary embolism?

The most common signs of pulmonary embolism are:

• Breathing problems

• Fast breathing

• Chest pain that worsens with breathing

• Coughing

Some people will have only minor symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Other pulmonary embolism symptoms

The symptoms of pulmonary embolism are not very specific; that is, they can also be signs of other medical conditions.

Pulmonary embolism symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing (73% of patients with PE)

• Pain that worsens when breathing (66%)

• Coughing (37%)

• Calf or thigh swelling (28%)

• Calf or thigh pain (26%)

• Coughing up blood (13%)

• Wheezing (9%)

• Fast breathing

• Fast heartbeat

• Feeling faint

• Fainting

• Heartbeat irregularities

• Foot swelling

• Tenderness of lower extremity

• Prominent neck veins

• Skin redness of lower extremity

• Calf or leg veins that look and feel like cords

Severe pulmonary embolism can cause blood pressure to fall, a clear sign that something is seriously wrong. Symptoms of low blood pressure include:

• Dizziness

• Lightheadedness

• Fainting

• Fatigue

• Blurred vision

• Heart palpitations

• Problems with thinking or concentration

• Confusion

• Nausea

• Cold and pale skin

• Fast breathing

RELATED: What happens when your blood pressure is too low

Pulmonary embolism vs. fat embolism symptoms

A fat embolism is a globule (embolus) of fat that gets into the circulatory system (usually more than one). They’re not big enough to cause blockage in an artery or vein, but they can disrupt blood flow through tiny blood vessels. Bone fractures are a common source of these fat globules, but surgery and liposuction can also cause the problem. Unlike PE, fat globules can cause problems in any body organ. If enough fat gets into the bloodstream, many organs are affected, typically the skin, the brain, the eyes, the heart, and the lungs. This condition is called fat embolism syndrome (FES), so problems throughout the body are one way to distinguish it from a pulmonary embolism. However, a fat embolism is even more challenging to diagnose than a pulmonary embolism. 

Types of pulmonary embolism: How can I tell which one I have? 

Healthcare professionals classify pulmonary embolism in two ways, but the most important distinction involves blood pressure. Low blood pressure is a bad sign and means the condition is potentially life-threatening. The technical terms are “hemodynamically stable” for PE patients with normal blood pressure and “hemodynamically unstable” for those whose blood pressure has dropped significantly. Low blood pressure has identifiable symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, and fainting. Always get immediate medical care when blood pressure drops too low.

Healthcare professionals also classify pulmonary embolism based on where the blood clot has gotten stuck in the lung. This classification requires a CT scan or other medical imaging, so it’s not something people can identify by themselves.

When to see a doctor for pulmonary embolism symptoms

See a doctor if there’s any suspicion that you or a loved one have symptoms indicating a pulmonary embolism. Some symptoms are signs that emergency medical treatment is needed no matter what the cause, including:

• Low blood pressure

• Severe chest pain

• Persistent or severe breathing problems

• Coughing up blood 

A doctor will take a medical history, perform a physical exam, and measure oxygen levels in the blood. It’s important to share all your health information with the doctor, especially: 

• Any history of blood clots, especially deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism

• Any recent surgery 

• Any recent bone break

• Any recent period of lengthy immobilization

• Active cancer

• Birth control or estrogen use

• Leg swelling

The doctor will score the medical history, symptoms, and results of the physical exam to determine the likelihood of a pulmonary embolism. 

If the probability is high, the doctor may order blood tests, a d-dimer test (to indicate blood clots), an electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure heart function, and imaging tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, pulmonary angiogram, MRI, or ventilation-perfusion scan (V/Q scan), which allows the doctor to see blood flow in the lungs without using high levels of radiation. An echocardiogram of the heart and an ultrasound image of the lower legs may be needed.

Complications of pulmonary embolism

Both treated and untreated, a pulmonary embolism can cause significant complications including:

• High blood pressure in the lung’s arteries (pulmonary hypertension)

• Recurrent blood clots

• Heart failure

• Cardiogenic shock (the heart loses the ability to pump enough blood to the body)

• Cardiac arrest

• Death

How to treat pulmonary embolism

To avoid serious complications and death, a pulmonary embolism requires early and intense treatment. The primary focus is getting blood pressure back to normal, preventing the blood clot from getting bigger, stopping other blood clots from forming, and breaking up the blood clot. To do this, doctors may use:

• Anticoagulants: drugs such as heparins to prevent the clot from growing or new clots from forming

• Fluids: intravenous fluids can help bring blood pressure back to normal 

• Clot dissolvers (thrombolytic therapy): intravenous drugs that break apart blood clots

• Catheter thrombolysis: the doctor may insert a catheter into the involved artery to infuse a clot-dissolving medication into the blood clot

• Surgical removal of the blood clot: in very severe cases, the surgeon will cut open the chest and remove the blood clot

• Vena cava filter: sometimes the doctor will insert a catheter and place a filter in the vein entering the heart (the inferior vena cava) to prevent more blood clots from entering the lungs

Preventing recurrent pulmonary embolisms

Once the crisis is over, the new reality is that pulmonary embolism, deep vein thromboembolism, and other blood clot problems are more likely to recur than in other people. After the event, anticoagulant treatment will continue for at least three months and possibly longer to prevent a recurrence. To prevent problems in the future, anyone who has gotten through a pulmonary embolism should:

• Take all prescribed medications as directed

• Follow the medical advice and diet prescribed or suggested by the doctor

• Keep all follow-up appointments with healthcare professionals

• Make sure all healthcare providers and doctors know that you have had a pulmonary embolism

• Wear compression stockings if instructed

• Know the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and get medical attention if they occur

RELATED: Is it safe to drink alcohol when taking blood thinners?

FAQs about pulmonary embolism symptoms

What are the early warning signs of a pulmonary embolism?

The most common signs of a pulmonary embolism are breathing problems, fast breathing, chest pain, and coughing. However, some people may have no warning signs or mild symptoms.

How long can you have a pulmonary embolism without knowing?

Pulmonary embolism symptoms can be mild. Sometimes there are no symptoms, even if the pulmonary embolism is severe. No matter what the symptoms, a pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening illness. Left untreated for too long, a pulmonary embolism has a mortality rate of 30%.

What does a pulmonary embolism feel like?

A pulmonary embolism can sometimes feel like nothing, but most people will experience some signs and symptoms. The most common is difficulty breathing. It can range from shortness of breath with exertion to a real struggle to breathe, even when sitting or lying down. Other common symptoms include fast breathing, chest pain, and coughing.

What’s next? Additional resources for people with pulmonary embolism symptoms

Test and diagnostics

• Acute pulmonary embolism, StatPearls

• Pulmonary embolism symptoms and diagnosis, American Lung Association

Treatments

• Acute pulmonary embolism, StatPearls

• Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: current therapies, American Family Physician

• Treating and managing pulmonary embolism, American Lung Association

Scientific studies and clinical trials

• Clinical characteristics of patients with acute pulmonary embolism, The American Journal of Medicine

• Surgical embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism: state of the art, Journal of Thoracic Disease

More information on related health conditions

• Deep vein thrombosis treatments and medications, SingleCare

• Fat embolism, StatPearls

• What happens when your blood pressure is too low, SingleCare