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Pulmonary embolism
Can a pulmonary embolism cold cause a fever?
Pulmonary embolism combined with a cold can indeed cause a fever, which is a relatively common occurrence. However, it typically results in a low-grade fever. Additionally, it is important to note that if pulmonary embolism is combined with pulmonary infarction, it can also lead to a fever, usually manifesting as a low-grade fever. Therefore, pulmonary embolism itself can potentially cause a fever. Furthermore, it is crucial to be aware that if pulmonary embolism leads to a fever, it should not be misdiagnosed as a common cold or pneumonia. Especially in patients with concurrent pulmonary infarction, the presence of a fever, and subpleural patchy shadows seen on chest CT can resemble the manifestations of pneumonia. Care must be taken to avoid misdiagnosis as pneumonia, which could delay treatment for the patient and potentially lead to severe consequences.
Can a secondary recurrence of pulmonary embolism be treated?
Pulmonary embolism, even if it recurs for the second time, is treatable, but the approach should differ from the first recurrence. It's vital to determine the cause of the pulmonary embolism, although many patients with this condition do not have an identifiable cause. For such patients, long-term oral anticoagulants might be recommended. With long-term use of oral anticoagulants, the likelihood of thrombosis, especially in the venous system, significantly reduces. This means that the chance of recurrence in patients also decreases considerably. However, if the cause can be identified, it is better to address and eliminate it. For instance, if the cause is long-term use of oral contraceptives or the presence of varicose veins, these primary or secondary factors should be resolved. The treatment should not just focus on anticoagulation or thrombolytic therapy, as there could still be a possibility of a future pulmonary embolism recurrence.
The difference between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary congestion
Pulmonary embolism and pulmonary congestion are two completely different diseases. Pulmonary embolism is mainly caused by the thrombosis of the venous vessels entering the pulmonary artery, thereby causing restricted blood flow in the pulmonary artery and leading to pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary congestion is often due to left heart failure, where the blood flow in the lungs cannot return to the left heart, causing the blood to be retained and congested in the lungs, forming this disease. However, they do have some similarities, such as presenting symptoms of difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, shock, etc. But through diagnosis and additional examinations, these two diseases can be clearly differentiated. Therefore, careful differentiation is required in clinical practice because the treatments for the two diseases are completely different. If misdiagnosed, the treatment could be incorrect, leading to serious consequences from mistreatment.
Can acute pulmonary embolism be cured by anticoagulation?
Anticoagulation has a partial curative effect on acute pulmonary embolism. Based on the area of the embolism and the patient's vital signs, it is classified into mild, moderate, and severe pulmonary embolism. If it is a mild to moderate pulmonary embolism, anticoagulation can completely cure it, because anticoagulation can help the body's fibrinolytic system remove the blood clots that have already formed, and it can also prevent new clots from forming. However, in cases of severe pulmonary embolism, especially when the patient presents unstable vital signs and is in life-threatening condition, it is not advisable to rely solely on anticoagulant therapy. This is because the effect of anticoagulant treatment is relatively slow, and it requires a certain amount of time for the body's immune and fibrinolytic systems to clear the embolism. Therefore, at such times, thrombolytic treatment is recommended. Of course, this requires an experienced physician to assess the patient's vital signs and overall condition.
Can I eat lamb if I have pulmonary embolism?
Patients with pulmonary embolism can appropriately eat mutton, as it is acceptable in their case. For pulmonary embolism, it is advocated to follow a light diet, avoiding spicy, irritating food, and excessively greasy food to prevent aggravating the gastrointestinal burden of the patient. Additionally, it is acceptable for patients with pulmonary embolism to consume some meat, as long as it is not fatty meat. Once diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, patients should receive active treatment, which often requires anticoagulant therapy. If the condition is not too severe, simple anticoagulant treatment may allow the patient’s condition to recover. However, if the pulmonary embolism is more severe, thrombolytic therapy may be necessary. After thrombolytic treatment, vascular anticoagulant therapy is given to manage the patient's condition.
Can a pulmonary embolism be detected by an X-ray?
Pulmonary embolism cannot be detected by X-ray. Although in rare cases, some signs might appear on an X-ray, such as localized sparse lung markings, these signs are typically not characteristic. For conditions like pulmonary embolism, color Doppler ultrasound can be used to assist in diagnosis. If the ultrasound suggests deep vein thrombosis in the legs along with pulmonary hypertension, it indicates a high possibility of pulmonary embolism. Additionally, testing for D-dimer and blood gas analysis can also help in diagnosing pulmonary embolism. CT pulmonary angiography can also be used to diagnose the condition. CT and pulmonary angiography have a high diagnostic value for pulmonary embolism, and most cases can be definitively diagnosed through these tests.
Can pulmonary embolism cause bloating and abdominal distension?
Pulmonary embolism can, in rare cases, cause bloating and abdominal distension. The primary clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism are chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Severe pulmonary embolism can also lead to a drop in blood pressure and sometimes may even cause the patient to faint. However, it is important to note that in severe cases of pulmonary embolism, patients may also experience abdominal distension. Patients with pulmonary embolism might also have acute pulmonary heart disease, which could include symptoms of gastrointestinal congestion. In such cases, patients may experience abdominal bloating. Additionally, there is a special condition known as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, where patients may experience chronic pulmonary heart disease and chronic hypoxia, which can also lead to abdominal distension.
What are the early symptoms of pulmonary embolism?
The early symptoms of pulmonary embolism are clinically diverse and often non-specific. Mild cases may not present any symptoms at all. Common symptoms include the following: 1. Unexplained difficulty in breathing; 2. Pain in the precordial region; 3. Some patients initially present with fainting as the first clinical symptom; 4. Some patients may also experience irritability, fear, or a near-death feeling; 5. Early symptoms can also include coughing, coughing up blood, and palpitations. Pulmonary embolism is a critical condition in clinical settings. Once it occurs, it is essential to go to the hospital promptly for an accurate diagnosis and to receive effective treatment to avoid severe clinical consequences.
Will acute pulmonary embolism get better in two days?
Acute pulmonary embolism is a type of disease with very many and complex inducing factors. Clinically, acute pulmonary embolism has a very sudden onset, and patients often present with unexplained symptoms such as pale complexion, chest tightness, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. During the acute phase of pulmonary embolism, immediate and effective anti-shock and other symptomatic resuscitation are essential upon arrival at the hospital. Generally, after timely and effective resuscitation, the patient's condition may be somewhat controlled. Usually, the first 1-3 days after the onset of pulmonary embolism are the most dangerous; therefore, continuous monitoring of the patient's vital signs is crucial during this time, followed by anti-shock and anticoagulation treatment as needed. Therefore, acute pulmonary embolism will not improve by the second day, although some of the patient's clinical symptoms may slightly improve after treatment.
What are the symptoms when pulmonary embolism becomes severe?
Pulmonary embolism can vary in severity, with serious cases primarily causing unstable vital signs. The disease primarily arises from venous thrombi in the venous system, which travel with the venous blood back to the right heart, and then with the blood flow from the right heart back to the aorta. If the thrombus is relatively large, it can easily become lodged in the pulmonary artery, forming a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism can range from mild to severe. Based on the patient's symptoms and vital signs, pulmonary embolism is categorized into low risk, intermediate risk, and high risk. Low and intermediate risk typically indicate that the patient's vital signs are relatively stable, with normal blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse oximetry saturation. In severe cases, patients may exhibit noticeable symptoms such as coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, shock, and oliguria. These represent the more severe cases of pulmonary embolism.