Know the Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment of a Pulmonary Embolism

This potentially fatal blood clot usually starts in the leg as a deep vein thrombosis. Avoiding obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle may help lower your risk.

Published: June 11, 2017

A blood clot that gets lodged in your lungs-a condition known as a pulmonary embolism-typically starts out in your leg before traveling up into your heart and then your lungs. In the legs, this clot is called a deep vein thrombosis, and it can develop quickly. The complications that can stem from a pulmonary embolism (PE) include damage to the affected lung, low oxygen levels in the blood, and damage to other organs that dont receive enough oxygen.