About Weight Loss Surgery

Pulmonary Problems

Many people who are obese also have breathing problems. Sometimes, people can develop what is known as a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is a condition that arises when an artery in your lung becomes blocked.

The signs or symptoms of pulmonary embolism vary significantly. The following list will give you an idea of what to look for:

sudden shortness of breath
a bloody cough
excessive sweating
chest pain (which may spread to shoulders, arm, neck, or jaw)
rapid heartbeat
light-headedness
leg swelling
wheezing
weak pulse
clammy skin (or blue-ish colored)

When the artery in your lung is blocked, it is blocked by a blood clot. Blood clots can occur for several reasons including long periods of inactivity, certain medical conditions, and an injury to the veins.

Don’t panic if you have one of the symptoms, it is always best to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Are you at Risk?
Anybody can develop blood clots and when combined with pulmonary embolism, it is known as venous thrombo-embolism (VTE). You have a higher risk of developing VTE if:

you are overweight
are inactive for a long period of time
confined to your bed for a long period of time
use birth control pills
smoke
have a family history of blood clots
have certain types of cancer
underwent medical procedures (especially hip or knee surgery)
have high blood pressure

Treatment and Prevention:
Once a doctor has diagnosed you, it’s important to be pro-active. Trereatment ususlaly involves medications, although a change of lifestyle may prevent further problems. To prevent pulmonary problems you can:

start exercising
improve your diet
try moving during long trips
get up from your desk every once in a while if you work in an office setting