It's not anxiety or fatigueIt's a clot in your lung.
If you suddenly become short of breath after a long trip, surgery or prolonged bed rest: don't wait. Every hour counts.
With anticoagulation, the risk drops dramatically.
4 signs that appear all at once
What sets pulmonary embolism apart is that it all starts out of nowhere, with no apparent reason. If you have 2 or more, don't wait.
Shortness of breath
Suddenly, without having done anything
Chest pain
Sharp, worse when breathing
Racing heart
You feel it without any effort
Coughing up blood
Even just a little
There is almost always a trigger
Embolism rarely appears "out of the blue." In these situations, the risk multiplies:
Recent surgery
Especially hip, knee or abdominal surgery.
Long trip or bed rest
Flights over 6 h or several days in bed.
Cancer or hormones
Active tumors, contraceptives, pregnancy.
Clot in the leg
A swollen, red and painful calf.
Treated in time, it changes everything
What matters most is getting there sooner. This is what changes between treating it and leaving it untreated:
- The clot is reabsorbed
- You return to your life in weeks
- Low risk of recurrence
- Lungs and heart intact
- Risk of sudden death
- Frequent recurrences
- Chronic pulmonary hypertension
- Lifelong limitation with exertion
Signs that say "go to the ER now"
If any of these appears, don't wait: call 911 or go straight to the emergency room
Go to the ER if you have:
- Sudden shortness of breath at rest
- Severe chest pain when breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Fainting or near-fainting
- A very fast pulse with no cause
- A swollen, warm leg
Already out of the hospital and need follow-up?
- Adjusting and timing your anticoagulant
- Ruling out chronic pulmonary hypertension
- Finding the cause that triggered it
- A plan to keep it from happening again
Specialized follow-up
A well-treated embolism doesn't have to come back
Tailored anticoagulation and prevention of recurrences.
Book my appointmentFrequently asked questions
What I'm asked the most about pulmonary embolism.
What exactly is a pulmonary embolism?
It is a clot that gets lodged in an artery of the lung. It almost always formed first in a deep vein of the leg and traveled up there. It is an emergency: it requires prompt anticoagulation to prevent it from growing or more clots from appearing.
What are the symptoms?
Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with breathing, a racing heart and sometimes coughing up blood or fainting. Suspect it even more if it happened after a long trip, surgery or several days in bed. Go to the emergency room.
How long does treatment last?
The anticoagulant lasts a minimum of 3 months. If the embolism was triggered by something reversible (surgery, immobilization), it is usually stopped at 3-6 months. If it was spontaneous or you've already had another, it may be indefinite. We decide by balancing recurrence vs. bleeding.
How do I book an appointment?
Message me directly on WhatsApp at 55 9170 8334 or book online with the appointment button. The later follow-up can be done by teleconsultation when all that's needed is to review studies and adjust the anticoagulant.
Find me here
Hospital Santa Coleta
Saturnino Herrán 59San José Insurgentes, Benito Juárez
03900 Mexico City, CDMX
Office hours
Monday to Friday: 4:00 to 8:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 to 4:00 PM
By appointmentImportant medical notice: The information on this site is educational and informational in nature, prepared by Dr. William César Lara Vázquez, and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment with a medical professional. If you have any respiratory symptom, see your doctor or go to the emergency department. In a respiratory emergency, call 911.