Home Health Center
Pulmonary Embolism
Risk Factors - Pulmonary Embolism
Risk Factors of Pulmonary Embolism
The risk factors of pulmonary embolism include:
- Prolonged periods of immobilization that affects the normal flow of blood in the body. For example extended hours of traveling / sitting in a plane or car
- Hospitalization or extended bed rest could also increase the risk
- Hypercoagulability or the increased ability of the blood to clot caused by smoking, genetics, oral contraceptive pills, or some types of cancers
- Pregnancy
- Previous surgery
- Estrogen therapy
- Prior history of DVT or PVE
- Any damage or injury to the walls of the veins caused by recent surgery or the use of a central venous catheter in any part of the body
- A stroke
- Paralysis of the legs
- Bone fracture
- Scuba diving
- Spinal cord injury
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Heart disease
- Certain protein and enzyme deficiencies
- Severe burns
- Infections
- The older you are, the more vulnerable you are to poor circulation and the formation of blood clots that can develop into an embolus
- Not taking your anti-coagulant medications are prescribed can also increase the chance of developing a pulmonary embolism