text: A girl who believed she had a bad hangover was found to have 13 blood clots in her lungs. Holly Barber, from Manchester, woke up feeling unwell and with chest and neck pains – but chalked it down to heavy drinking a few days before. But when the 25-year-old started coughing up blood she knew it was something serious. She rushed to hospital, where doctors found 13 pulmonary embolisms, blood clots blocking the main artery of her lungs, killing the tissue and stopping her from breathing properly. She was treated with medication but, incredibly, a year later was dealt another blow – when medics found another melon-sized blockage in her right lung. Holly Barber, 25, was horrified to be told she had 13 blood clots in her lungs as she believed  she was suffering was just a bad hangover. She is pictured before (left) and after her diagnosis (right) Ms Barber began coughing up blood and was having difficulty breathing, so rushed to hospital. It was there doctors diagnosed pulmonary embolisms - blood clots that were blocking the arteries in her lungs . She was horrified to be told the blockage was so big she was probably days from death. She now takes blood-thinning medication to prevent future clots, but the shock of the ordeal has led her to completely changed her lifestyle. She has given up drinking and taken up exercise in an effort to lead the healthiest life possible, and wants to encourage other to do the same. Ms Barber, who has set up her own diet business, said: 'I was so scared when I started coughing up blood, I had no idea what was happening to me but I knew it wasn't a hangover. 'I used to love partying with friends but after suffering from 13 blood clots, I knew I needed to change my ways. 'A terrifying experience like this gives you a brand new outlook and makes you appreciate things so much more, I'm lucky to be alive. 'I did like a drink but you have to look at the bigger picture.' A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in the pulmonary artery, which is the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. As in Miss Barber's case, it can be life threatening, as it can prevent blood from reaching the lungs. A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in the pulmonary artery, which is the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. This blockage – usually a blood clot – is potentially life threatening, as it can prevent blood from reaching the lungs. The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism can sometimes be difficult to recognise because they can vary between individuals. But the main symptoms include: . chest pain – a sharp, stabbing pain that may be worse when you breathe in . shortness of breath – this can come on suddenly or develop gradually . coughing – this is usually dry, but may include coughing up blood or mucus that contains blood . feeling faint, dizzy or passing out . A person should visit their GP as soon as possible if you have a combination of these symptoms. If  symptoms are particularly severe, dial 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Source: NHS Choices . The symptoms, feeling dizzy, chest pain, coughing and being short of breath can sometimes be difficult to recognise because they can vary between individuals. Ms Barber first discovered she was battling with pulmonary embolisms in 2012, when she was 22-years-old. She was feeling weak and ill, but had been heavily drinking and partying a few days before, so she presumed it was just a bad hangover. Then she started coughing up blood, struggling to catch her breath and suffering from chest and neck pains so her mother Carol Mack, 54, and stepfather Bob Tomkins, 57, decided to rush her to hospital. A scan revealed she had 13 blood clots in her lungs, though it was found they had not spread from her legs, where clots normally form. Despite many tests, nothing could explain what had caused her pulmonary embolisms. The only possible risk factor was the contraceptive pill, which she stopped taking straightaway. She was put on Heparin injections – which thin the blood - to prevent any blood clots from reoccurring, as well as other drugs to reduce the pain. Ms Barber said: 'I had to inject myself every month and I was on pain relief for some months after suffering from my blood clots. 'I was constantly anxious for a year and I suffered from panic attacks and anxiety.' Because of this anxiety, when she got a similar pain again in May 2013 - almost exactly a year later - she just thought that she was being paranoid and chose to ignore it. Luckily, she eventually forced herself to go back to hospital and a CT scan revealed she had a melon-sized blockage in her right lung. The blood clot has entered the artery of her right lung after passing through the heart, and had blocked the artery, cutting off blood supply so a large part of the lung tissue around it had died. Ms Barber said: 'It was the size of a melon and almost covered my heart, if I had left it any longer I would have died. A year later, Ms Barber was rushed to hospital again, and doctors found a melon-sized blockage in her lungs. She is pictured here with partner Steven, who she lives with in Manchester . Before her illness (left and right), Ms Barber was a 'party girl' and loved to drink. She has now given up drinking in favour of a healthy lifestyle. 'I did like a drink but you have to look at the bigger picture', she said . She will now have to take the warfarin, which stops her blood from clotting, for the rest of her life. The shock of being diagnosed twice has meant she has decided to turn her life around. Some doctors advised she shouldn't exercise because the pulmonary embolisms meant her lungs' ability to pump oxygen around the body was reduced. But she has found safe ways to exercise and plans to run the Great Manchester Run in May to show other sufferers that it is possible. She said: 'I'm so thankful to be alive, I have set up my own healthy lifestyle business called Healthy Fit + which helps others make the right lifestyle choices. 'I have never felt better and I hope my story shows others who have suffered from pulmonary Embolisms that they can achieve their fitness goals.' Ms Barber has been with her boyfriend Steven, who works for a solar panel company, for nearly four years and they now have their own flat in Manchester together. But Ms Barber is uncertain whether her reduced lung capacity will mean she will be able to have children. She said: 'I really want children in the future because I am a maternal person but it would be a high risk pregnancy. Ms Barber has now set up her own diet business, hoping to encourage others to take up healthy habits . 'I would have to be in a good condition, hence my healthy lifestyle now.' Dr Noel Snell, Director of Research at the British Lung Foundation, said: 'A pulmonary embolism - better known as a blood clot in the lungs - causes a blockage in a pulmonary artery, the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. 'Some blood clots can be life-threatening, for example a large clot in the main artery. 'Sometimes people will get multiple small recurrent blood clots and will notice that they become increasingly breathless and experience chest pains - these can be quite difficult to spot and are often diagnosed late.' To help Ms Barber raise funds for her Greater Manchester Run visit her Just Giving page.
target: Holly Barber, 25, thought she was hungover but began coughing up blood .
  Hospital tests revealed 13 clots  called Pulmonary Embolisms in her lungs .
  Incredibly, a year later doctors found a melon-sized blockage in her lung .
  She must now take blood-thinning medication for the rest of her life .