pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels to the lung and blocks an artery. generally speaking when you have a pulmonary embolism (also called a "pe") you know it. patients generally experience a sudden severe shortness of breath severe chest pain and feelings of doom. it's not uncommon for someone with pe to say "i think i'm going to die. " if you are experiencing chest pain that comes and goes you should be evaluated by a health care professional. many things can cause intermittent chest pain but of course you want to rule out any sort of heart problem. everyone should know the signs of a heart attack which can be similar to those of a pe except the shortness of breath usually is much more severe with pe. a pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening medical emergency. if you suspect pe always call 911 immediately. hope this helps!
is the pain constant or off and on in pulmonary embolism