Oman- Pulmonary clots are a critical medical conditions that require rapid intervention, as it occurs as a result of the obstruction of the pulmonary arteries with bloody thrombosis, which leads to a lack of blood flow to the lungs.
Pulmonary clots can lead to dangerous complications if they are not diagnosed and tackled in time. Studies indicate that people with dangerous factors such as obesity, smoking, and heart disease are most vulnerable to pulmonary strokes.
The professor and advisor of chest diseases, sleep disturbances and careful care, Dr. Muhammad Al -Akour, says that the pulmonary stroke, or what is medically known as the pulmonary valve, is an emergency medical condition that occurs when one of the pulmonary arteries or one of its branches is corrupted due to a bloody thrombus transmitted from the veins of the legs or pelvis, a condition known Deep Vein Thrombosis.
This blockage can disrupt blood flow and reduce oxygen in the body, which may be fatal if the medical intervention is not done. In some rare cases, the blockage may be caused by air bubbles, tumors, or fat of bone fracture and the leakage of fatty tissues from the bone marrow to the blood when the bone is broken.
Symptoms of pulmonary stroke
Dr. Al -Akour explains that the symptoms vary according to the size of the stroke and the extent of the artery blockage, but there are some warning signs that require attention, most notably:
- A sudden shortness of breathing gets worse with the effort.
- Severe pain in the chest resembling stabs, and increases when deep breathing or coughing.
- HAEMOPTYSIS.
- Rights of the heart (palpitations).
- Dizziness or fainting of low blood pressure and lack of oxygen.
- The color of the skin changes to blue (Cyanosis) due to a lack of oxygen.
- Swelling or pain in the leg if the stroke is caused by a deep venous thrombus.
Dr. Al -Akour shows that symptoms of pulmonary stroke are similar to some other pathological conditions, which may make the diagnosis more complicated. Among the basic differences:
- Cardiaca: Its pain is “contemporary” and extends to the left or jaw arm, and is not related to breathing.
- Pneumonia: accompanied by a high temperature, thick phlegm, and symptoms of infection such as chills.
- Panic outlets: shortness of breath is accompanied by numbness and sweating of the limbs, but it is not usually associated with severe chest pain.
What distinguishes the pulmonary clot is the appearance of symptoms suddenly, with pain associated with breathing, and there is often a disease of risk factors such as long periods of sitting or blood clotting disorders.
Diagnosis of the pulmonary stroke
Dr. Al -Akour said that the diagnosis of the stroke is that doctors rely on several tests to detect the pulmonary stroke, including:
- CT PULMONARY ANGIOGRAPY: The most accurate examination, but it may be not possible in some cases such as kidney failure patients.
- D-DIMER: It reveals the presence of clots in the blood, but it is not specified and is mainly used to exclude the stroke if the result is negative.
- VI/Q Scan: It determines whether there is an imbalance between the blood ventilation of the lung, indicating the presence of a clot.
- Echocardiogram: to detect any signs of pulmonary hypertension caused by stroke.
- Chest X-ray: to exclude other diseases such as pneumonia.
- Dopler Ultrasound: to detect deep veins in the legs.
Prevention methods
Dr. Al -Akour explained that due to the seriousness of the pulmonary stroke, prevention plays an essential role in reducing infection. And between some effective advice:
- Moving the body regularly, especially during long travel or office work.
- Maintaining a healthy weight, as obesity increases the risk of clots.
- Wearing pressure socks to improve blood flow in the legs.
- Drink water in sufficient quantities to avoid dehydration, which may contribute to increasing blood viscosity.
- Quitting smoking because it increases the risk of blood clots.
- Commitment to blood -blooded drugs for patients at risk, according to the doctor’s instructions.
- Make sure to start the movement early after surgical operations to prevent venous thrombosis.
- Lifestyle adjustments to reduce the risk of infection.
Dr. Al -Akour adds that some simple lifestyle changes can greatly reduce the risk of pulmonary stroke through:
- Exercise regularly, such as walking or swimming, to keep the blood circulation active.
- Sit with caution: moving the feet every hour while traveling or long work.
- A healthy diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3, while reducing saturated fat.
- Quitting smoking because it increases blood viscosity and affects the health of the blood vessels.
- Monitoring chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, as it increases the risk of clotting.
- Consult a doctor before taking birth control pills, especially for women smokers or family history in clots.
Dr. Al -Akour indicated that the pulmonary stroke is a serious condition that may be fatal, but early detection and rapid treatment can saute life. If you feel any of the aforementioned symptoms, do not hesitate to seek immediate medical help. Prevention is better than treatment, and a healthy lifestyle is the key to avoiding this deadly condition.
Vascular blockage
Consultant of the cardiovascular disease and interventional catheter, Dr. Munjid Eid Ayoub, says that 5 to 10% of acute pulmonary clots are fatal during the first hour of the emergence of symptoms. Also, some signs such as low blood pressure, heart attack, and right heart weakness are dangerous indicators. He explains that the continuation of the stroke may lead to chronic pulmonary blood pressure, which requires immediate therapeutic intervention to restore blood flow during the first 48 hours to reduce the risk of permanent deficit in lung function.
Causing factors for the pulmonary stroke
Dr. Ayoub notes that there are three main factors that lead to pulmonary clots:
- Blood flow changes: such as lack of movement after surgeries, especially bone operations, or long distances, in addition to pregnancy, obesity, and cancer.
- Changes in the vascular wall: which may occur due to surgery or catheter, causing damage to the veins and increasing the risk of the formation of thrombosis.
- Factors affecting blood properties: such as the use of hormonal contraceptives containing estrogen, or pregnancy, as the body increases the clotting factors to protect the mother from bleeding during childbirth.
Dr. Ayoub confirms that studies have proven the presence of genetic mutations that increase the possibility of pulmonary strokes, such as a boom in the gene that controls a protein called the fifth factor, which is associated with an increase in the risk of blood clots and the G20210A, in addition to a lack of some proteins responsible for regulating blood clotting. It indicates that some patients may need lifelong blood into blood to prevent serious complications.
Dr. Ayoub explains that the basic treatment for pulmonary clots is the use of anticoagulants, whether by venous or oral injection, such as warfarin or direct anticoagulants such as APIXABAN and Rivaroxaban. It indicates that the duration of treatment ranges between 3 to 6 months, and may extend to a year or a lifetime in some cases.
Dr. Ayoub also recommends the use of low molecular heparin for cancer and pregnant women to avoid possible complications.