Pulmonary embolism
If you're at risk of developing blood clots, a number of things may be recommended to help prevent a pulmonary embolism.
If you're admitted to hospital to have surgery, your care team may recommend that you take an anticoagulant, such as Warfarin , during your stay in hospital and when you go home.
This medication alters chemicals in your blood so that clots don't form easily.
Compression devices are inflatable and work in a similar way, expanding at regular intervals to squeeze your legs and encourage the flow of blood.
Pulmonary embolisms can sometimes occur when the blood flow slows down during a long period of inactivity, such as during recovery from surgery or long-distance travel.
It's therefore important that you increase your mobility as soon as possible after surgery by moving around or doing leg exercises. Also, avoid taking long journeys for four weeks after you come out of hospital.
If you're at risk of developing blood clots, consult your GP before travelling long distances. They can advise about ways to reduce your chance of a clot developing during your journey, such as:
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You can also reduce your risk of developing a pulmonary embolism by:
Find out what a pulmonary embolism is and what causes it, plus how it's diagnosed, treated and prevented.
Read about the possible symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, including chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing.
Read about the possible causes of pulmonary embolism. Three of the main causes are inactivity, blood vessel damage and having blood that clots too easily.
Diagnosing a pulmonary embolism can be difficult because the signs and symptoms vary between individuals and are common to many other conditions.
Read about how pulmonary embolisms are treated using anticoagulant medicines and, occasionally, surgery to remove the blockage.
Find out how to prevent blood clots if you're at risk of developing them, such as taking anticoagulants, wearing compression stockings and increasing your mobility.