Blood clots are your friends--most of the time. They are the body's way of healing wounds and preventing blood loss. However, when they form in the arteries and veins, they can cause serious health problems, and may also be fatal. Blood clots in the lungs can be small, causing minimal damage. If left untreated, they can become larger, killing the lung tissue.
Causes
If a blood clot forms in another area of the body, such as the arms or legs, it can break free and travel through the bloodstream. It can then become lodged in the lungs, with symptoms soon following.
Shortenss of Breath
This is a symptom that occurs when the clot is small and has not damaged surrounding tissue.
Anxiety
As the clot becomes larger and the damage grows worse, you may display symptoms of an anxiety attack. These can include restlessness and rapid breathing.
Pleuritic Chest Pain
This symptom may occur when you try to take a deep breath.
Blood-Stained Sputum
If the clot has grown larger and is damaging the tissue around it, you may begin to notice blood-tinged sputum when you cough.
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