Embolism: definition, symptoms, causes, to the extent

Definition

What is an embolism?

Embolism is a condition in which the flow of blood in the arteries is blocked by a foreign object, such as a blood clot or air bubble.

Embolus are particles that move in our blood vessels, either in veins or arteries. Most embolism consists of clotted blood cells. A blood clot is called a thrombus and a moving clot is called a thromboembolus.

When moving down the blood vessels in the body, the embolus tends to go to the part it cannot penetrate and become lodged. Cells that normally receive their blood supply through this route are deprived of oxygen (ischemia) and die. This condition is called an embolism.

What are the types of embolism?

There are several types of this condition, namely:

Pulmonary embolism

An embolus forms on the leg and is located in one of the pulmonary arteries. This condition usually goes away on its own.

Brain embolism

When a blood clot travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Retinal embolism

Small blood clots can block the small blood vessels at the back of the eye, usually causing blindness.

Septic embolism

Infection causes substances to clog blood vessels.

Amniotic embolism

During pregnancy, amniotic fluid can travel to the mother's lungs and cause a pulmonary amniotic embolism.

Air embolism

Air bubbles in the blood can block blood flow to the arteries, usually in divers.

Fat embolism

Fat or bone marrow can block blood flow just as air blocks blood flow.

How common is this condition?

This condition can occur in patients of any age. This condition can be treated by reducing risk factors.

The two most serious conditions that result from embolism are strokes, in which the blood supply to the brain is cut off and pulmonary embolism, in which a foreign body blocks the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of this condition?

The symptoms of this condition depend on what type the condition itself is related to. The main symptoms of a stroke are weakness or numbness in one arm and slurred speech or an inability to speak at all.

If you have a pulmonary embolism, you will feel stabbing chest pain that comes on suddenly or gradually. Shortness of breath, coughing, feeling dizzy, or fainting are also common symptoms of the condition.

If you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT), you may feel pain and swelling in one of your legs. Severe pain in the affected area, warm skin, and red skin on the back of your leg are also common symptoms of this condition.

Meanwhile, the main symptoms of embolism are:

Short and fast breath
Bloody phlegm
Cough
Dizzy
Fainting
Intense chest or back pain.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes this condition?

This condition is caused by another object that shouldn't be in your blood. The object which is generally the cause of the embolism is

Blood clot

Some health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, or pregnancy can cause blood to clot in the veins even if there is no bleeding.

Blood clots can travel through the bloodstream before they get stuck and start blocking blood flow to certain organs or limbs.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot on the inside of a vein in the leg, is one of the main causes of pulmonary embolism.

Fat

A long fracture, such as a thighbone, can cause fat particles inside the bone to escape into the bloodstream. They can also develop after you experience burns or complications after bone surgery.

Air

An embolism can also appear when air bubbles or other gases enter the bloodstream.

This condition is of particular concern to divers. If the diver gets out of the water too quickly, the change in pressure can cause nitrogen bubbles to form in the bloodstream and become trapped in the veins.

Cholesterol

In people with severe atherosclerosis, small pieces of cholesterol can sometimes break away from the sides of the blood vessels and produce embolism.

Amniotic fluid

In rare cases, the amniotic fluid - the fluid that protects the baby in the womb - can leak into the mother's blood vessels during labor and cause a blockage.

This can lead to breathing problems, drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for embolism?

The risk factors for embolism are:

Obesity

Being overweight increases the risk of blood clots, especially in women who smoke or have high blood pressure.

Pregnancy

The weight of the baby pressing on the veins in the pelvis can slow down blood flow from the legs. Clots are more likely to form when blood flow slows down.

Smoke

For reasons that are not entirely clear, tobacco use predisposes some people to blood clot formation, especially when combined with other risk factors.

Additional estrogen

The estrogen in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can increase clotting factors in your blood, especially if you smoke or are overweight.

In the case of pulmonary embolism, things that increase your risk of developing the condition are:

Medical history

You have a higher risk of developing this condition if a family member has had blood clots in the veins or pulmonary embolism. This condition may also occur due to an inherited disorder that affects the blood and makes it more prone to clot.

Some of the health conditions that increase your risk of developing pulmonary embolism include:

Heart disease

Cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure, increases the chance of clots forming.

Cancer

Some cancers - especially pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer - can increase levels that help blood clot. Chemotherapy further increases the risk of the condition.

Women with a personal or family history of breast cancer who take tamoxifen or raloxifene also have a higher risk of developing blood clots.

Operation

Surgery is a major cause of blood clotting problems. For this reason, drugs are given to prevent clots before and after major surgery.

Prolonged immobility

Blood clots tend to form during periods of inactivity, such as:

Bed rest

Staying in bed for a long time after surgery, heart attack, broken leg, trauma, or any serious illness makes you more susceptible to blood clots.

Long journey

Sitting in a narrow position during long journeys can slow blood flow in the legs, which contributes to clot formation.

What complications might I experience in this condition?

Embolism, especially the lungs can be life threatening. About a third of people with this condition that go undiagnosed and untreated do not survive.

However, when the condition is diagnosed and treated promptly, that number can drop. In rare cases, small embolism can develop over time and cause chronic pulmonary hypertension or what is known as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Diagnosis

How is embolism diagnosed?

In addition to examining physical symptoms and asking for medical history, the condition is diagnosed by the following tests:

A chest UX-ray, ventilation perfusion (V / Q) scan, CT scan or angiography of the lungs will be performed to look for objects obstructing blood flow.
For the diagnosis of deeper veins or brain scans, stroke, angiography, Doppler ultrasound studies or impedance plethysmography (IPG) may be performed to look for blocked arteries.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How are embolism handled?

Treatment for embolism depends on the case, size and location of the blockage. Ways to deal with embolism are:

Drugs

Anticoagulant drugs

These drugs, including warfarin, heparin, and low-dose aspirin can be recommended to break up embolism and prevent blood flow from clots.

Thrombolytics

When a blood clot dissolves on its own, there is a drug given through a vein that dissolves rapidly. This medication is intended for life-threatening situations because it can cause sudden and severe bleeding.

Other operations and procedures

Clot removal

If you have a very large, life-threatening blood clot in your lung, your doctor may remove it through a tube (catheter) that is threaded through your vein.

Vein filter

A catheter can also be used to place the filler in the main vein of the body. This procedure is usually performed for people who cannot take anticoagulant drugs or when anticoagulants are not working properly and quickly.