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A member asked:
How deadly is a pulmonary embolism if it is a medium sized one?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Any size can kill: Any size pulmonary embolus can lead to death if it leads to enough of an outlet flow obstruction from the right side of your heart to your lungs. It is the sudden decrease in flow and increase in pressure for your heart to overcome that kills you.
Answered 8/4/2012
5.8k views
Depends: The larger the pulmonary embolism, the more likely it is to block a large artery leading to the lung. If there is underlying heart disease, or if enough of the lung circulation is block, right sided heart failure can develop.
Answered 9/28/2016
5.2k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
Does wheezing occur with a pulmonary embolism? And if it does does that mean its a big embolism or small one?
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If your loved one suffered a pulmonary embolism, would you advise them to avoid going to crowded places during the flu season?
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A member asked:
I am really scared of a pulmonary embolism.How strong would the chest pain be?Huge pain? How long till you die if one shows up?Enough time to call er?
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A member asked:
I am a medical student and i want to ask why would a patient have one side chest pain in the pulmonary embolism ( physiology) ?
4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
One in 3 people with normal range chloresterol levels will still die of a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism, right?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
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