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Pulmonary embolism
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.
How is pulmonary embolism caused in young people?
Common causes of pulmonary embolism in young people include the following aspects: First, fractures, especially fractures of the lower limbs, are prone to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; Second, thrombophilia, some young people due to congenital genetic factors, which can lead to easy formation of blood clots in arteries or veins, and potentially increase the incidence of pulmonary embolism; Third, prolonged immobilization, such as long periods of sitting, can lead to slow blood flow in the lower limbs, which might result in deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; Fourth, other factors like severe infections could also trigger pulmonary embolism; furthermore, the risk of pulmonary embolism is also higher in pregnant women during the perinatal period.
Is there a relationship between pulmonary embolism and lung cancer?
Pulmonary embolism and lung cancer can be related; common causes of pulmonary embolism include amniotic fluid embolism, air embolism, and deep vein thrombosis. In patients with lung cancer, when cancerous emboli enter the bloodstream, they can cause pulmonary embolism. Additionally, if the patient's condition is poor, with difficulties in eating, prolonged bed rest, and increased blood viscosity, deep vein thrombosis can occur, leading to pulmonary embolism. Therefore, there is no absolute relationship between pulmonary embolism and lung cancer, but lung cancer may trigger pulmonary embolism.
Why should one lie flat for acute pulmonary embolism?
When acute pulmonary embolism occurs, it is primarily due to a thrombus from the venous system being carried by the venous blood flow back to the right heart, and then due to the ejection from the right heart, this thrombus gets lodged in the pulmonary artery, forming a pulmonary embolism. After the onset of pulmonary embolism, the primary treatment measure is to have the patient lie down and remain still. The reason is mainly that if the patient is standing or moving, it is very likely that the thrombus in the venous system could continue to detach and move within the venous system. This can worsen the symptoms of pulmonary embolism or lead to new embolic sites, so the treatment for the patient involves immobilization and lying down to avoid further movement, making this the most basic approach to treatment.
How to determine if a pulmonary embolism is acute or chronic?
Pulmonary embolism can be distinguished between acute and chronic based on the duration of the patient's illness, symptoms, and supplemental examinations. Typically, patients with acute pulmonary embolism have no prior similar symptoms and suddenly experience severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood. Additionally, through supplemental examinations like blood tests, abdominal ultrasound, and pulmonary artery CT angiography, it is possible to determine whether the thrombus is fresh or old. In contrast, chronic pulmonary embolism often presents with prolonged symptoms. Patients usually do not experience chest pain or cough, and the main issue is chronic breathing difficulty. In severe cases, pulmonary heart disease may occur, and patients may have swelling in the face and limbs. Ultrasound and pulmonary artery CT angiography can reveal the characteristics of the thrombus, which differ from those seen in acute pulmonary embolism. Thus, these examinations can help determine whether the condition is acute or chronic.
What are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism warning sign?
Pulmonary embolism is also very common in clinical settings, mainly seen in patients who have been bedridden for a long time, undergone various major surgeries, suffered from long bone fractures, pregnancy, etc. In the early stages of pulmonary embolism, patients generally experience varying degrees of chest pain, hemoptysis, and difficulty breathing, among others. If pulmonary embolism is suspected and the patient's condition permits, a pulmonary artery CTA scan should be immediately carried out to further confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. If the pulmonary embolism has already caused circulatory disturbances, thrombolytic therapy should then be considered.
The most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism is also relatively common in clinical practice, primarily caused by an embolus blocking the pulmonary artery system, leading to a group of clinical syndromes. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism mainly include the following points: The first is that patients may experience unexplained difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, especially after activity. The second is that patients experience significant chest pain. The third may be accompanied by hemoptysis, but usually, the amount of blood expectorated is not large. The fourth is that patients may experience restlessness, panic, and even a sense of impending doom. Clinically, there sometimes appears the so-called triad, which includes simultaneous occurrence of difficulty breathing, chest pain, and hemoptysis, etc. Pulmonary embolism is primarily diagnosed clinically through pulmonary artery CT.
Why can't patients with pulmonary embolism get out of bed?
Pulmonary embolism is a relatively common clinical disease, with many and complex inducing factors. The most common cause of pulmonary embolism in patients is due primarily to thrombi dislodging from the veins of the lower limbs or the pelvic deep veins, traveling through the bloodstream to the pulmonary arteries, thus causing the disease. Therefore, bed rest is essential during the acute phase of pulmonary embolism. The purpose of bed rest is to prevent further embolisms, to avoid the dislodging of pelvic or lower limb deep vein thrombi, which could lead to the formation of new thrombi. Therefore, for patients with pulmonary embolism, it is crucial to provide timely treatments such as thrombolysis to control the clinical symptoms caused by the pulmonary embolism effectively.
Why do patients with pulmonary embolism feel sleepy?
Patients with pulmonary embolism primarily suffer from emboli within the venous system, which travel back to the right heart and then become lodged in the pulmonary artery, forming a pulmonary artery thrombus. This reduces pulmonary blood flow and impacts the exchange of air in the lungs, leading to hypoxia in the patient. Following hypoxia, the brain tends to enter a sleepy state, thus many patients with pulmonary embolism exhibit sleepiness. This sleepiness is related to the pathophysiological mechanisms of pulmonary embolism. At this point, it is crucial to provide sufficient oxygen to the patient to address their hypoxemia. Ultimately, the most fundamental treatments are prompt thrombolysis or anticoagulation therapy to resolve the embolus, addressing the condition fundamentally.