A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the blood vessels in the lungs. It happens when part, or all, of a blood clot blocks the blood supply to your lungs. A pulmonary embolism is a serious, potentially life-threatening, condition.
Types of blood clot
Blood clots that develop in a vein are known as venous thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism is a form of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which means a blood clot in the vein.
Most cases of pulmonary embolism develop when part, or all, of the blood clot travels in the bloodstream from the deep veins in your leg and up into your lungs.
Having deep vein thrombosis (DVT) puts you at greater risk of developing a pulmonary embolism. DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the veins in your leg.
Who is affected by pulmonary embolism?
Every year, one in every 1,000 people in the UK develops DVT, and around one in 10 people with untreated DVT will develop a pulmonary embolism.
Continue to next section: Symptoms of pulmonary embolism