EMBOLISM

Overview and Facts

Embolism refers to a blocked artery produced by a foreign body, such as an air bubble and clogged blood. The cells and body organs require oxygen, carried by the comprehensive system in the circulation. If a significant organ’s blood supply is interrupted, the heart, lungs,  brain organs will lose some or all of their function.

Any substance or material that should not be in your blood is considered a foreign body.  Among the most common causes of embolism are as follows.

  • Fats
  • Clots in the blood
  • Cholesterol
  • The amniotic fluid

Meanwhile, you are more likely to get an embolism if you:

  • are obese or overweight (body mass index (BMI) 30 or above)
  • are expecting a child
  • are at least 60 years old
  • smoke
  • have a cardiac condition

Types and Symptoms

TYPES

The following are two of the dangerous forms of embolisms:

  • Stroke – a condition in which the blood flow to the brain is blocked off.
  • Pulmonary embolism – whenever a foreign body impedes the artery that delivers blood from the heart to the lungs, this condition arises.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of an embolism vary depending on the kind of embolism.

Stroke. The primary signs of a stroke are drooping of the face, paralysis or stiffness in one arm, difficulty in speaking, or inability to articulate or comprehend what was said.

Pulmonary embolism. You will experience a severe throbbing chest that may occur abruptly. Common symptoms include fatigue, vomiting blood, feeling weak, disoriented, or fainting out. 

Moreover, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in your leg’s deep veins and is one of the most common causes of pulmonary embolism.

Symptoms might include:

  • One of your legs is experiencing discomfort and inflammation
  • severe pain in the afflicted region
  • heated skin near the clot’s vicinity

If you suffer pain, inflammation, and soreness in your leg, as well as shortness and chest discomfort, get medical attention right away.

Diagnosis & Medications

TREATMENT

The following factors will influence how an embolism is treated:

  • what created the clog
  • the magnitude of the clog
  • where the obstruction is located in the body

An embolectomy is a surgical technique that is occasionally used to eliminate a blockage. During the procedure, the physician creates an incision in the afflicted artery so that the foreign body causing the blockage may be drawn out via aspiration.

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