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10/Nov/2025

A pulmonary embolism is one of such medical emergencies, which are frightening and, indeed, serious. The good news is, however, that with knowledge about what to be careful of and quick action, you can save your life. Knowledge of the rate of development of a lung clot into a serious trouble assists you in understanding when to seek assistance immediately.

Being a specialist in diagnostic imaging, I have witnessed how timely diagnosis using the advanced lung scans and CT pulmonary angiography can save lives. This blog also details the rates at which a pulmonary embolism could be life-threatening, what the symptoms of PE are to be observed, and why it is more important to get scanned early. With diagnostic imaging and scanning services, we assist doctors in knowing what is going on in your body. Imagine us as the professionals to get the photographs of your internal organs that will assist your doctor in making the appropriate choices.

How quickly can a Pulmonary Embolism become Life-Threatening?

A pulmonary embolism may turn dangerous very fast, within minutes to even hours. The arteries that carry blood are blocked by a blood clot in the lungs, making it difficult to obtain oxygen in the body. Mild pulmonary embolism symptoms could be found gradually because of small clot accumulation. However, a large clot that is positioned directly in the middle of the artery between the two main arteries, known as a saddle pulmonary embolism, can be fatal in as little as 30 minutes up to 2 hours without treatment. 

The period is dependent on the size and position of the clot. Minor clots can provide a few days or weeks of warning signs. Large clots are quick and have the potential to inflict an instant collapse. By reading about PE symptoms and using the correct lung scan technology early, patients offer the best opportunity to be treated successfully.

What are the Early Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism?

Having information about the pulmonary embolism symptoms may save your life literally. When there is a blood clot in the lungs that is interfering with blood circulation, your body will warn you about it. The following are the symptoms to be observed:

  • Acute dyspnea – You are out of breath, even when not physically active or even sitting down.
  • Sharp chest pain- The pain is worsened by inhaling deeply, coughing, or moving about. This is among the frequent PE symptoms.
  • Rapid or irregular pulse – The heart beats wildly or not so, the heart is overloading itself, pumping blood in blocked arteries.
  • Coughing up blood – The smallest amount of blood during coughing is also a life-threatening symptom of pulmonary embolism that should be urgently addressed.
  • Pain or swelling in your leg- The blood clot can begin in your leg and then move on to your lungs, so when one of your legs is swollen or painful, it can be an early indicator.
  • Feeling dizzy or fainting – When you can no longer absorb oxygen in your brain with the clogged blood in your lungs, you may feel light-headed.
  • Sweating and panic – Your body recognizes that something bad has taken place, hence you can experience cold sweats.

 When these symptoms of pulmonary embolism are experienced, seek medical attention immediately.

When do you need to visit a doctor in case PE symptoms occur?

The solution is not too complicated: immediately! Every minute is important when the symptoms of pulmonary embolism show themselves. Waiting to determine whether it will get better is dangerous. Do not drive yourself when you experience chest pain or difficulty breathing. Call in another to drive or call an ambulance. The most reliable method of detection of a blood clot in the lungs is a CT pulmonary angiography

This CT scan of the lung is more detailed, and doctors are provided with clear images of precisely where the clot is. At ViaScan, we are able to offer services of heart, lung, and whole body scans through the latest technology. We have an imaging facility specialized in the early diagnosis of severe illnesses. Although we do not treat pulmonary embolisms, our precise scans will provide your physicians with the right information to take pulmonary embolism treatment quickly.

Choose Our Preventive Lung Scan

Early Detection Saves Lives!

    • Accurate
    • Quick Result
    • Affordable

Conclusion

Pulmonary embolism is a quick killer, and particularly saddle pulmonary embolism. Be aware of the symptoms of pulmonary embolism. Run to see a doctor in case of any problem. Obtain adequate diagnostic imaging in the form of CT pulmonary angiography or lung scan. Allow your medical staff to administer pulmonary embolism treatment and have diagnostic imaging services at ViaScan that give you the clear images your doctor requires. It may even be a matter of saving your life and obtaining the right scans as quickly as possible. ViaScan is there to deliver the high-tech diagnostic imaging solutions that will empower your physicians to make optimal, quick-action decision-making.


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07/Jul/2025

Blood clots are a common health concern for many people, particularly when they are exposed to news about clots spreading throughout the body and appearing in the lungs. The good news is that once you grasp how this is done, you can remain relaxed and be prepared in advance for what to look out for. You might think that it’s not very comforting, but with the facts, it’s not. At ViaScan, we help patients understand their risks and offer preventive lung and heart scans to detect potential issues early. There are no technical medical terms or clear facts that enable one to know what is going on with their body and when they must visit.

What is a blood clot? Where do they normally occur?

A blood clot is a patch that your body creates to stop the bleeding process. Just imagine it to be a bandage on your body. Blood clots are beneficial when they occur in the case of a cut, as they prevent excessive blood loss. However, in some cases, blood clots form in areas where they are not supposed to, such as in your blood vessels.

Which are the common locations of clotting?

The most usual places are the deep veins of your calves or thighs

  • Arms: Not very frequent, but possible
  • Pelvis: Occasionally, within the lower extremities of your pelvis
  • Other locations: Can develop in other body parts

When it occurs in a deep vein (it most often happens in your leg), you can be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis or DVT. It’s like a livestock jam on your blood highway, which is unwarranted.

Why do the clots move to the Lungs?

Some of the reasons can be: 

  • Blood flow in your leg goes to the heart.
  • The blood flows into your lungs through your heart, which pumps it first.
  • The blood vessels in the lungs become smaller and smaller
  • The vein becomes too narrow, due to which the clot is stuck

A preventative lung scan can catch any blood clot that has travelled its way to your lungs. With clear imaging technology, you can take early action to improve your health. 

How Quickly Can a Blood Clot Travel from the Leg to the Lungs?

This is the question everybody would like to know! The trick is that you would be surprised by the answer. The rate varies according to several factors:

  • Clot size: The smaller ones move faster
  • Your heart rate: The quicker your heart rate, the quicker your travel
  • Blood flow: the quality of the blood circulation
  • Your activity level: Exercise influences blood circulation.

Important facts:

  • Not all leg clots make their way to the lungs
  • Some clots remain there and dissolve
  • Naturally, the body has a system to dissolve clots
  • Travelling can be prevented through rapid medical care

However, the most important thing to remember is that if you experience symptoms, do not wait to see if the clot travels or not; seek help directly.

What are the DVT early symptoms?

It is lifesaving to identify the early signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. That is what to look out for:

General symptoms in your leg:

  • An enlarged leg compared to the other one
  • Pain: When walking, aching pain or cramping pain
  • Warmth: The area associated with the disorder feels hot when touched.
  • Redness: skin colour changes
  • Tenderness: it is painful to the touch

Important notes:

In most cases, only one leg is more involved than the other. Pain may manifest as a persistent cramp in a muscle that does not subside. If you experience them, particularly when they are sudden or occur more frequently, you should seek medical attention.

Which symptoms accompany a clot that has moved to the Lungs?

If a clot migrates to your lungs, it is referred to as a “pulmonary embolism,” and its symptoms differ substantially from those associated with leg clots.

Common signs Emergency signs
Shortness of breath: Suddenly, breathing becomes difficult Extreme chest pain
Chest pain Trouble breathing
Rapid pulse: Your pulse beats at a quicker-than-normal rate. Passing out
Coughing: There could be blood or pale, frothy foam brought up. Coughing blood
Leg symptoms: Can still experience pain or swelling in the legs

Is it possible to keep blood clots from moving?

There are numerous ways to avert the formation of blood clots and their movement:

Lifestyle prevention:

  • Keep moving:
  • Exercise: consistent physical movement aids healthy blood circulation
  • Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
  • Cease smoking: doing so elevates the risk of clots.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Excessive weight puts pressure on veins.\

Medical prevention:

You may take medications that help prevent clots. Early detection combined with prompt treatment.  Health scans enable the detection of problems in the early stages.  Follow the movement recommendations provided by your physician.  Even minor movements help. Recognising the condition early is essential for averting serious complications. At this point, modern health screening services become crucial.

  • Ultrasound can detect blood clots in the legs.
  • CT scan: Shows any clots in the lungs
  • Whole-body scans: Thorough health screening
  • Lung scan: An imaging procedure dedicated to the lungs

Seek the professional assistance of qualified medical practitioners who will be able to determine the level of personal risk and advise accordingly on the necessary screening in relation to health history.

Choose Our Preventive Lung Scan

Early Detection Saves Lives!

    • Accurate
    • Quick Result
    • Affordable

Conclusion 

The description of blood clots moving from the leg to the lungs may be frightening, but understanding how it occurs can help you remain calm and know what to do. It is essential to detect symptoms early and seek help promptly. And it all comes down to the fact that your body is spectacular at healing itself, provided you support it properly. Most individuals who get blood clots fully recover after treatment. It is good not to overlook symptoms and seek help when necessary.

In situations where you are concerned about your risk of developing blood clots and wish to learn about preventive health screenings, ViaScan offers a comprehensive health screening package that includes advanced imaging scans and full-body scans. One of the best investments one can make is to take charge of their health through early detection and prevention.


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21/Apr/2025

Slightly after you have been breathing normally, do you feel like you’re going to drown? Even if you’re on dry land. The pulmonary embolism makes its mostly unwelcome announcement with this terrifying sensation. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels through the veins and blocks one of the arteries in the lungs that carry blood back to the heart. Each year, this dangerous condition affects thousands of Americans and can be fatal if not treated promptly. Allow us to explore this serious medical condition by answering some of the key questions about its causes and risk factors.

Why did Blood Clots travel to the Pulmonary Arteries?

Pulmonary embolism is most frequently caused by blood clots (which are simply clots of blood), formed in the deep veins of the legs (a condition called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). Physical traits, such as these clots breaking free and travelling the bloodstream to the lungs, which they are prone to, are physical traits.

  • A blood clot’s journey takes place on a specific path.
  • Forms in a deep vein (usually in the legs)
  • Travelling through larger veins, it breaks loose.
  • Passes through the right side of the heart

It enters the pulmonary trunk (the main artery of the blood that passes through the heart to the lungs).

Small pulmonary arteries cannot accommodate their size and get stuck in them.

Since all blood passes through the lungs to pick up oxygen, all blood-borne clots will eventually end up in the pulmonary vessels unless they dissolve along the way. The pulmonary arteries branch so closely, creating trap points that clots can get wedged on the narrowing sections and stop blood flow to the tissue of some of this lung.

What Factors make a Patient at greater risk of having a Pulmonary Embolism?

Other things that can raise your risk of having blood clots that could develop into pulmonary embolism include:

Risk Category Specific Risk Factors
Medical Conditions • Cancer, Heart disease, COVID-19 infection and  Inflammatory bowel disease
Situational • Recent surgery or trauma, Extended bed rest, Long-distance travel 
Medications • Hormone replacement therapy and Birth control pills containing estrogen
Personal Factors • Pregnancy and postpartum period, Advanced age, Obesity and Smoking

 

A landmark study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that cancer patients had an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism (Venous thromboembolism includes pulmonary embolism) (Khorana et al., 2007).  

How does a Blood clot impact the Pulmonary Trunk and lung function?

When a blood clot lodges in the pulmonary trunk or any of the pulmonary arteries, it begins a chain reaction of events.

  • Blocks blood flow to portions of the lungs
  • Prevents proper oxygen exchange
  • Increases pressure in pulmonary vessels
  • Works harder than normal, causing the right side of the heart to work harder.
  • In severe cases, it can lead to right heart failure.

However, the symptoms depend on the size and location of the clot. Small clots in peripheral pulmonary arteries may cause little, if any, symptoms, and large clots that block the pulmonary trunk would be immediately life-threatening.

Can a Pulmonary Embolism present before there are Symptoms?

Weirdly, many sufferers of pulmonary artery blockages often present with little or subtle symptoms, which are more likely to be confused with other things. Common symptoms include:

  • Sudden shortness of breath
  • Pain that intensifies with forceful exhaling
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Cough (sometimes with bloody sputum)
  • Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

Nevertheless, it is estimated that up to 30–50% of pulmonary embolism cases are asymptomatic. Its silent nature makes it particularly dangerous because treatment delays compound mortality risk.

Why Early Screening for Pulmonary Embolism Can Be Life-Saving

Preventing the formation of blood clots is the best way to avoid pulmonary embolism. If you have risk factors, consider these preventive measures.

  • Do Not Sit Still – don’t sit for excessive periods
  • Stay hydrated, especially when travelling
  • Choose compression stockings for long flights

If prescribed, follow what your doctor recommends regarding blood thinners

Early detection is key to identifying concerning risk factors or symptoms. Viascan provides advanced imaging services that can help identify pulmonary embolism before it becomes life-threatening. Their latest CT pulmonary angiography can also detect even small clots in the pulmonary arteries, which can be addressed quickly and as soon as possible.

Choose Our Preventive Lung Scan

Early Detection Saves Lives!

    • Accurate
    • Quick Result
    • Affordable

Conclusion

Preventive screening is also offered via the Preventive Screen, which will help identify factors that are at risk of blood clots and cardiovascular disease so that you can take action to protect your health. All via the expertise of expert radiologists with convenient locations, this is how you know exactly where you stand when it comes to your pulmonary health status.

When it comes to pulmonary embolism, don’t wait until the symptoms are severe; understand your risk factors and seek appropriate screening early to save your life.