Pulmonary Embolism or Heart Attack? How to Recognize the Symptoms
Some medical conditions can feel like they come on suddenly and can also be a frightening experience. Two conditions that fit that description are pulmonary embolism (PE) and heart attack. Understanding these two conditions and their symptoms can help you know when it’s the right time to act fast and seek emergency care.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
In the simplest of terms, a pulmonary embolism is a harmful blockage in an artery of the lungs caused by a blood clot. While a blood clot can form in the lungs, most of the time a blood clot will form in another area of the body such as the legs, for instance, and travel to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism. A PE can be a scary and life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention.
What are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism?
Experiencing any of the symptoms below can be a sign of a pulmonary embolism. These symptoms include:
- Sudden shortness of breath: the most common symptom of PE and can occur even at rest.
- Chest pain: the pain is often sharp and worsens with deep breaths, coughing or bending over.
- Lightheadedness or dizziness: this can be caused by a drop in blood pressure due to blockage and may result in passing out if it happens suddenly.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of a PE, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. If necessary, dial 911 for assistance from local emergency medical personnel. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent serious complications, such as lung damage, heart failure and even death.
How is a pulmonary embolism treated?
For those patients experiencing PE, treatment can range from being prescribed medication to being admitted for inpatient care. The level of care you receive depends on the severity of PE.
In instances that cannot be treated through medication alone, Summa Health offers/conducts a minimally invasive procedure using a mechanical thrombectomy device (FlowTriever) to remove the blood clot in the artery of the lung causing the PE.
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack (or myocardial infarction (MI)) is when the blood supply to all or a part of the heart is greatly reduced or completely blocked.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Research has shown that heart attack symptoms can vary in males and females. It is important to recognize any or all of these symptoms to quickly identify a heart attack. Acting fast when suspecting a heart attack can make the difference between life and death.
Heart attack symptoms often experienced by males:
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that goes away and comes back.
- Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck and arms
- Light-headedness
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
Heart attack symptoms often experienced by females:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Nausea, vomiting or dizziness
- Back or jaw pain
- Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue
- Mild flu-like symptoms
What to do if you suspect you’re experiencing a heart attack.
If you or someone you know has any of the symptoms noted above, call 911 immediately and let emergency medical services take you to the emergency department. Do not attempt to drive yourself or let someone else drive you.
If it is a heart attack, EMS personnel can begin treating you while you are still enroute to the hospital. Within minutes of arrival, Summa doctors will evaluate you for chest pain and provide the right treatment. Summa Health has team members who are here for you 24 hours a day, every day.
Prioritizing your health is about more than eating right or taking your vitamins. Sometimes making your health a priority means recognizing when your body is telling you that something is wrong. The signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism and heart attack are signals that should never be ignored. To learn more about Summa Health’s pulmonary services, visit summahealth.org/lung. To learn more about Summa Health’s cardiac services, visit summahealth.org/heart.
About the author
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A specialist in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, Dr. Faisal Qadir has special interests in general pulmonology, sleep disorders, sleep apnea and diseases of the pulmonary vasculature.
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