By Donna V. Scaglione
Reports that tennis star Serena Williams got a blood clot in her lungs after a cross-country flight following foot surgery has put the deadly medical condition in the spotlight. Such blood clots, known as pulmonary embolisms, usually originate in the leg and travel up to the lungs, causing severe chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath — a medical emergency.
Some of us are at a higher risk for pulmonary embolism than others, and risk doubles every 10 years after the age of 60. Here’s what you should know to protect yourself.
Understand What It Is
When a pulmonary embolism strikes, it blocks a major lung artery, cutting blood supply to the lungs and reducing oxygen levels in the body, explains WebMD.com. These clots often start in a deep leg vein, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis.
In the United States, at least 100,000 cases of pulmonary embolism are reported, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. It’s the third most common cause of death among hospitalized patients. If the condition is untreated, about 30 percent of those with it will die, the NHLBI says. The majority of those who don’t survive die within the first few hours of being stricken.
