Lung Diseases and Care

Pulmonary Diseases and Therapeutics

Pulmonary vascular disease is a category of disorders. All affect the blood circulation in the lungs. A pulmonary embolism happens when the blood flow through the lung's artery is blocked suddenly. This is caused by a blood clot that traveled from somewhere else in the body—usually a leg or the pelvis—and has not broken up in the blood stream. Symptoms included difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting and a rapid heart rate. A pulmonary embolism can damage the heart, and if not treated immediately, can cause death. Pulmonary embolisms can be prevented through drugs that break up blood clots before they reach the lung, physical activity, compression socks that improve blood circulation in the legs, and pneumatic compression (a massage or compression of the legs through use of an electronic cuff).