Conditions and symptoms
What Is a Pulmonary Embolism? Lung Clots Explained
Pulmonary embolism · say it: PUL-muh-nair-ee EM-buh-liz-umAlso written: PE, lung clot, blood clot in the lung
Short answer
A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks an artery in the lungs, usually after travelling from a leg vein. It is an emergency.
What it means
A pulmonary embolism (PE) happens when a blood clot, usually from a deep vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis), breaks off and travels to the lungs, blocking blood flow. Symptoms can include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that is worse when breathing in, coughing (sometimes with blood), a fast heartbeat and feeling faint. It is an emergency: anyone with these symptoms needs urgent medical help straight away.
Labels for some medicines, including estrogen-containing contraceptives and hormone therapy, some cancer medicines and others, warn about blood clots including PE. The risk is higher with smoking, after surgery, during long periods of not moving, in pregnancy and with a past clot. Anticoagulant labels list PE as something they treat or prevent, and warn that stopping early can raise the risk of a clot.
A PE is a type of venous thromboembolism (VTE), along with deep vein thrombosis. It is different from a heart attack, though both can cause chest pain and breathlessness.
Where you may see it
- Warnings on estrogen-containing contraceptive and hormone therapy labels
- Anticoagulant labels under 'Indications'
- CT scan reports and discharge summaries
📄 How it looks on a report
CT pulmonary angiogram: Filling defects in the right lower lobe pulmonary arteries, consistent with pulmonary embolism.
🙅 What it does not mean
- A label warning does not mean the medicine will cause a clot for you; it describes a raised risk.
- Breathlessness has many causes; not every case is a PE, but sudden symptoms need checking.
- Having had a PE does not mean you cannot travel or exercise again; ask your team.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Pulmonary embolism”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Apixaban
A factor Xa inhibitor, a blood thinner medicine (anticoagulant)
- Estradiol
An estrogen hormone medicine
- Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
a combination birth control pill that contains a progestin and an estrogen
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
A progestin hormone. The label describes it as a derivative of progesterone. The FDA pharmacologic class is not listed.
- Warfarin Sodium
A blood thinner (anticoagulant) of the vitamin K antagonist type. The label says it acts by blocking vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Pulmonary embolism” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “pulmonary embolism”
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