What Is The Difference Between A Blood Clot And A Pulmonary Embolism?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Thrombosis

occurs when a thrombus, or blood clot, develops in a blood vessel and reduces the flow of blood through the vessel. Embolism occurs when a piece of a blood clot, foreign object, or other bodily substance becomes stuck in a blood vessel and largely obstructs the flow of blood.

Is DVT and PE the same?

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease that includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT and PE are both forms of VTE, but

they’re not the same thing

. DVT is a condition that happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg.

What is the difference between PE and DVT?

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when

a clot breaks loose

and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs.

What are the symptoms of a DVT or PE blood clot?

  • Swelling in the affected leg. Rarely, there’s swelling in both legs.
  • Pain in your leg. The pain often starts in your calf and can feel like cramping or soreness.
  • Red or discolored skin on the leg.
  • A feeling of warmth in the affected leg.

What percent of DVT become PE?

In fact,

over 50%

of patients with a DVT will eventually end up with a diagnosis of PE (Merli et al. 2017).

What foods to avoid if you have blood clots?

Don’t: Eat the Wrong Foods

So you have to be careful about the amounts of kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, chard, or collard or mustard greens you eat.

Green tea, cranberry juice

, and alcohol can affect blood thinners, too.

How long does it take to go from DVT to PE?

How Soon Can I Be Physically Active? Many patients worry that being physically active might cause a DVT to break off and become a PE. The risk of clot breaking off and forming a PE is mostly present in the first few days,

up to ≈4 weeks

, while the clot is still fresh, fragile, and not scarred.

What is the survival rate of a pulmonary embolism?

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot in the lungs, which can be serious and potentially lead to death. When left untreated,

the mortality rate is up to 30%

but when treated early, the mortality rate is 8%. Acute onset of pulmonary embolism can cause people to die suddenly 10% of the time.

Is walking good for blood clots?

Aerobic activity — things like walking, hiking, swimming, dancing, and jogging — can also help your lungs work better after a pulmonary embolism. Studies show that exercise also can

improve

symptoms of DVT, including swelling, discomfort, and redness. Physical activity can also make you feel more energized.

How long can you live with a pulmonary embolism?

If those postmortem-discovered pulmonary embolism events that were categorized as not causal for death are excluded, 71.1% of patients with pulmonary embolism

survived 7 days

. The Kaplan-Meier estimated probabilities of survival at later dates after onset of venous thromboembolism are shown in Table 1.

How long can a blood clot stay in your leg?

A DVT or pulmonary embolism can

take weeks or months to totally

dissolve. Even a surface clot, which is a very minor issue, can take weeks to go away. If you have a DVT or pulmonary embolism, you typically get more and more relief as the clot gets smaller.

Does a DVT hurt when resting?

You may notice the pain is worse when you are walking or standing for periods of time. People sometimes mistake the pain for a pulled muscle or another muscle injury. But pain from a

DVT blood clot will tend to get worse and not better with time or rest

.

Does a blood clot feel like a pulled muscle?

These symptoms of a blood clot may feel similar to a pulled muscle or a “Charley horse,” but may differ in that the leg (or arm) may be

swollen, slightly discolored, and warm

. Contact your doctor as soon as you can if you have any of these symptoms, because you may need treatment right away.

Is DVT a death sentence?


Yes, you can die of a deep vein thrombosis

. Death in DVT cases typically occurs when the clot or a piece of it travels to the lung (pulmonary embolism). Most DVTs resolve on their own. If a pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs, the prognosis can be more severe.

Does a blood clot in the leg hurt constantly?

You can often feel the effects of a blood clot in the leg. Early symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include swelling and tightness in the leg. You may have a

persistent, throbbing cramp-like feeling

in the leg. You may also experience pain or tenderness when standing or walking.

Can walking dislodge a DVT?

The authors concluded that

walking exercise was safe in acute deep venous thrombosis

(DVT) and may improve acute symptoms. Exercise training did not acutely increase leg symptoms of previous DVT and may prevent or improve post-thrombotic syndrome.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.