A lung blood clot, also called a pulmonary embolism, refers to a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. This blockage is often caused by a blood clot that formed in the legs, pelvis, or arms and traveled to the lungs. Pulmonary embolisms can be quite dangerous and even life-threatening if not treated quickly. One common question people have about lung blood clots is whether they are painful or not. Below we will explore this topic in more detail.
Are Lung Blood Clots Typically Painful?
In many cases, yes – lung blood clots often cause chest pain or discomfort. According to research, chest pain is reported in about 66-80% of pulmonary embolism cases. The pain may feel sharp or stabbing when breathing in. The pain tends to get worse with deep breaths, coughing, or bending or twisting at the waist.
The pain occurs because the clot blocks off blood flow to part of the lungs. This causes inflammation and pressure on the nerves in that area of the lung tissue, resulting in pain signals being sent to the brain. The pain is the lungs’ way of letting us know something is wrong.
In some cases, pulmonary embolisms don’t cause any symptoms at all. However, most of the time some type of chest pain is present to alert us to the potential problem.
What Does the Chest Pain of a Lung Blood Clot Feel Like?
Chest pain from a pulmonary embolism can vary from person to person. Here are some of the descriptions patients often give of the chest pain:
– Sharp, stabbing pain that may get worse when breathing in deeply
– Pressure, tightness or heaviness in the chest
– A feeling of an elephant sitting on the chest
– Burning or heartburn-like chest pain
– Tenderness when pressing on the chest
– Pain that radiates to the left arm, neck, jaw, upper back or shoulder blade area
The pain may initially come and go with breathing but tend to become more persistent as the clot worsens. It often feels worse when exercising, coughing, bending, or taking deep breaths. The severity can range from mild to an extremely painful 10/10 on the pain scale.
Are There Other Symptoms Besides Chest Pain?
Yes, in addition to chest pain, there are other common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism including:
– Shortness of breath – This can come on suddenly or gradually worsen. Breathing may be rapid and shallow.
– Anxiety or feeling of impending doom
– Lightheadedness or dizziness
– Leg pain or swelling, especially in the calf, which may indicate a DVT blood clot originally formed there
– Coughing up blood
– Faster than normal heart beat
– Excessive sweating or clamminess
– Fainting or passing out
The more symptoms present, the more likely it is that a pulmonary embolism may be causing the pain. However, some people only experience chest pain and no other symptoms initially.
Can a Lung Blood Clot Be Painless?
In some cases, yes, it’s possible to have a painless lung blood clot. According to research, around 20-34% of pulmonary embolisms may not cause any symptoms at all.
Factors that make a painless lung blood clot more likely include:
– The clot is small – Small clots may not block off enough blood flow to cause pain. Larger clots are more likely to result in noticeable symptoms.
– The clot occurs in minor pulmonary blood vessels – Clots in the tiniest capillaries don’t obstruct as much blood flow.
– The person has another condition masking the symptoms – Examples include pneumonia or chest wall injury.
– The person has a high pain tolerance – What’s excruciating to some may not be perceived as painful to others.
However, most of the time, even small pulmonary emboli cause some degree of chest discomfort ranging from mild to severe. A complete lack of any symptoms is less common, even with minor clots.
What’s the Outlook for an Untreated Lung Blood Clot?
If a pulmonary embolism is left untreated, the prognosis is poor. According to statistics:
– About 30% of untreated pulmonary embolisms are fatal
– Of those who survive the initial clot, about 30% will die within the next few months due to complications
– Less than 40% of untreated patients are alive at 6 months
This shows the importance of seeking prompt treatment at the first symptoms of a lung blood clot. Even clots that initially seem minor or painless can grow and cause life-threatening complications.
Some of the severe complications that can occur if a clot goes untreated include:
– Pressure on the right ventricle leading to heart failure
– Recurrent pulmonary embolisms as more clots form
– Pulmonary hypertension (increased blood pressure) in the lungs
– Infarction and death of lung tissue
– Systemic hypotension (low blood pressure) and shock
– Paradoxical embolism – where the clot travels from the veins to the arterial system through a patent foramen ovale or other defect. This can cause an ischemic stroke, organ damage, or other arterial occlusion.
This demonstrates why even a painless lung blood clot merits rapid diagnosis and treatment. Catching it early is crucial.
Should I Go to the ER for Lung Blood Clot Chest Pain?
Chest pain and shortness of breath are considered medical emergencies. You should go to the emergency room or call 911 if you experience these symptoms to rule out a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism or other condition.
Here are some other reasons to seek emergency care for chest pain possibly related to a lung blood clot:
– The pain is severe or gets significantly worse
– The pain started during or shortly after prolonged immobilization, such as a long car ride or flight
– You have risk factors for blood clots, such as recent surgery, pregnancy, clotting disorders, etc.
– The chest pain is accompanied by shortness of breath, coughing up blood, low oxygen levels, fainting, or leg swelling
– You have signs of shock, such as low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, dizziness, sweating, and confusion
– You are currently on blood thinning medication but are having symptoms of a clot
– The pain does not get better with rest or initial treatment with oxygen or pain medication
Any chest pain that concerns you warrants an immediate trip to the ER to determine the cause. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to symptoms that could indicate a potentially fatal blood clot.
How is a Lung Blood Clot Diagnosed?
If a pulmonary embolism is suspected based on risk factors and symptoms, the doctor can use various tests to confirm or rule out the diagnosis:
Lab Tests
– D-dimer blood test – This looks for markers in the blood that indicate clot formation. A positive result indicates a clot may be present.
Imaging Tests
– Chest X-ray – Can often detect signs of pulmonary embolism but may appear normal in up to 40% of cases
– CT pulmonary angiogram – The gold standard imaging test, which looks for clots in the pulmonary arteries
– Lung ventilation/perfusion scan (V/Q scan) – This compares air flow and blood flow in the lungs. Mismatched areas suggest clots.
– Leg ultrasound – Helps find deep vein thrombosis clots that may have traveled to the lungs
– Echocardiogram – Used to evaluate the heart for pressure strain from pulmonary embolisms
– Pulmonary angiography – Direct imaging of the pulmonary arteries via dye injection. Used if other tests are inconclusive.
Other Tests
– Electrocardiogram (ECG) – May show signs of right heart strain, although often normal
– Pulse oximetry – Measures oxygen saturation levels in the blood, which may be low with an embolism
– Pulmonary function tests – Can assess impairment in lung function due to clots
A combination of the above tests allows doctors to determine if a pulmonary embolism is present and where it is located so that appropriate treatment can begin.
What’s the Treatment for Lung Blood Clots?
The main treatment for pulmonary embolisms involves anticoagulant (blood thinner) medications to stop the clot from getting bigger and allow the body to slowly break it down. Treatment options may include:
– Heparin or enoxaparin injection – Quick-acting injectable anticoagulants used initially in the hospital.
– Warfarin – An oral anticoagulant that takes time to reach full effect. Often started in the hospital and continued at home.
– Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) – Faster-acting oral medications like Xarelto, Eliquis, or Pradaxa. Replacing warfarin for many patients.
– Thrombolytic drugs – Clot “buster” medication for severe, life-threatening pulmonary embolisms. Helps rapidly break down the clot. Carries a risk of bleeding.
– Vena cava filter – A small filter placed in the inferior vena cava to trap clots and prevent them from reaching the lungs. Used if anticoagulants are contraindicated.
– Pulmonary embolectomy – Surgical removal of the clot, reserved for severe cases that don’t respond to other treatments.
Most patients with lung blood clots require hospitalization initially for rapid anticoagulation. The length of treatment is usually 3-6 months or longer depending on risk factors for recurrence. Follow-up testing helps ensure the clot fully resolves.
Home Remedies to Help With Chest Pain From a Lung Blood Clot
While getting medical treatment for a pulmonary embolism, these self-care remedies may help relieve associated chest pain at home:
– Take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as directed
– Apply a warm compress to the chest for 15-20 minutes
– Use cold packs on the chest to reduce inflammation
– Sleep propped up on pillows to relieve chest pressure
– Practice controlled breathing exercises
– Avoid strenuous physical exertion
– Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
– Try cough drops or throat lozenges if coughing from the pain
– Ask your doctor about taking mucinex or antihistamine to thin lung secretions
– Consider over-the-counter antacids for heartburn-like chest discomfort
However, contact your doctor if the pain worsens or persists despite trying these remedies. Do not take aspirin or NSAIDs without medical approval, as they can increase bleeding risk.
How to Prevent Lung Blood Clots
Pulmonary embolism is often preventable if the risk factors are minimized. Some ways to help prevent lung blood clots include:
– Staying active and mobile as much as possible
– Avoiding long periods of immobilization after surgery, illness, or injury
– Wearing properly fitted compression stockings to improve blood flow in the legs when immobile
– Staying hydrated by drinking adequate fluids
– Maintaining a healthy weight
– Exercising regularly and building leg strength
– Not smoking or quitting smoking
– Taking doctor-prescribed medications to prevent clotting if high-risk
– Moving ankles and legs periodically when traveling long distances
– Getting up to walk every 1-2 hours on long flights
– Avoiding tight clothing around the legs and waist
Seeking preventive treatment after pregnancy, surgery, trauma, or hospitalization may also be recommended if risk factors are present. Receiving prompt treatment for existing blood clots is key to preventing future pulmonary embolism.
Conclusion
In summary, lung blood clots or pulmonary embolisms usually cause chest pain, which may range from mild to severe depending on the size and location of the clot. While some minor clots may be painless, chest discomfort is common in most cases. Typical features of pulmonary embolism chest pain include a stabbing, pleuritic quality that worsens with breathing.
However, any acute onset chest pain warrants immediate medical evaluation, even if you are unsure of the cause. With rapid diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis of pulmonary embolism is much better. Long term anticoagulation and addressing risk factors can help prevent painful and dangerous blood clots in the lungs.