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Can A Blood Clot Cause Difficulty In Breathing?
Question: Hi, My husband has not felt well for 10 days. He has spent the last 4 days in bed. He is away from home and I am not with him. He finally went to Urgent care. They checked him for pneumonia by regular x-ray and said he does not have that. Because of his difficulty breathing they think it may be a blood clot. They want to check him for that by means of a blood test. My question is, can a blood clot give you difficulty with breathing? Will a blood test show it for sure or should he have a CT scan with XXXXXXX to check? Will that test be dangerous if he does have a blood clot? WHat else can cause difficulty breathing if it is not pneumonia?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully your question and would explain that pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)could lead to acute difficulty breathing.
In such case two tests would be needed:
-plasma levels of D-Dimmer, which is not very specific for pulmonary embolism (I think this is the blood test they have recommended you to do)
-an pulmonary angio CT scan, which is the most specific test for such disorder.
You should know that difficulty breathing could be related to different disorders like:
-lung infection or pneumonia
-heart failure
-pulmonary embolism, etc.
I would recommend performing some other tests:
-respiratory function tests
-resting ECG
-cardiac ultrasound to examine his cardiac function and structure and exclude possible heart failure
-blood gas analysis (to examine the oxigenation of blood and the acid base balance)
You should discuss with his doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been of help!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully your question and would explain that pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)could lead to acute difficulty breathing.
In such case two tests would be needed:
-plasma levels of D-Dimmer, which is not very specific for pulmonary embolism (I think this is the blood test they have recommended you to do)
-an pulmonary angio CT scan, which is the most specific test for such disorder.
You should know that difficulty breathing could be related to different disorders like:
-lung infection or pneumonia
-heart failure
-pulmonary embolism, etc.
I would recommend performing some other tests:
-respiratory function tests
-resting ECG
-cardiac ultrasound to examine his cardiac function and structure and exclude possible heart failure
-blood gas analysis (to examine the oxigenation of blood and the acid base balance)
You should discuss with his doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been of help!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I do believe they checked his heart and it is good. He normally has excellent blood pressure. And strong heart. He did tell me his oxygen level is a little low but not bad 94 to 95 I think. Is a blood clot rare, especially if he has had no injury or leg pain? How likely is it the x-ray missed pneumonia?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the additional information.
You should know that these levels of oxygen saturation, may indicate a disorder affecting the lungs.
You should know that pulmonary embolism can be relqte to this issue, even if he doesn't have leg Pain ( although it is more frequent when venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis in the legs is evidenced).
A chest X Ray study is a low specificity and low sensibility test for pulmonary embolism. It sho detect something only in massive pulmonary embolism, but this is not the case ( based on the saturations).
Hope to have been of help!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the additional information.
You should know that these levels of oxygen saturation, may indicate a disorder affecting the lungs.
You should know that pulmonary embolism can be relqte to this issue, even if he doesn't have leg Pain ( although it is more frequent when venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis in the legs is evidenced).
A chest X Ray study is a low specificity and low sensibility test for pulmonary embolism. It sho detect something only in massive pulmonary embolism, but this is not the case ( based on the saturations).
Hope to have been of help!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi,
Quick question regarding me. I got hit on my forehead from an empty glass gallon jar yesterday. It fell off the counter and I was underneath it. It's heavy glass and did not break. I have a slight mark, but do not bruise easily. Went on with day as usual but woke up this morning with a massive headache. Not a migraine, I suffer from them and know the difference this pain is all where I got hit. My question is can I take exceeding for the pain? Should I worry about internal bleeding? What symptoms should I be looking for if this is more serious then I think?
Quick question regarding me. I got hit on my forehead from an empty glass gallon jar yesterday. It fell off the counter and I was underneath it. It's heavy glass and did not break. I have a slight mark, but do not bruise easily. Went on with day as usual but woke up this morning with a massive headache. Not a migraine, I suffer from them and know the difference this pain is all where I got hit. My question is can I take exceeding for the pain? Should I worry about internal bleeding? What symptoms should I be looking for if this is more serious then I think?
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would explain that if is normal to have headache after a head trauma.
I would recommend painkillers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, even Excedrin for the pain.
I would also advise you to avoid straining physical activity and a possible repeated trauma.
If your headache doesn't improve, or even worsens in the next hours/ days and other sympathetic like dizziness, blurring vision, nausea, gait problems, confusion etc. occur, you should go to the ER for a brain CT scan to exclude possible intracranial hemorrhage.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would explain that if is normal to have headache after a head trauma.
I would recommend painkillers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, even Excedrin for the pain.
I would also advise you to avoid straining physical activity and a possible repeated trauma.
If your headache doesn't improve, or even worsens in the next hours/ days and other sympathetic like dizziness, blurring vision, nausea, gait problems, confusion etc. occur, you should go to the ER for a brain CT scan to exclude possible intracranial hemorrhage.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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