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1 in 4 people worldwide die from conditions caused by thrombosis - Do you know the symptoms?
- Emilie was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism at 12 weeks pregnant and spent almost two weeks at Queen's Medical Centre.
- Pulmonary embolism is one type of thrombosis, which is the term used to describe large unwanted clots that form within veins or arteries and lead to serious complications.
- Thrombosis is one of the main causes of heart attacks, strokes, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). It is important to look out for the symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, a red and painful leg, and a fast heartbeat.
Emilie Vilela spent two weeks on a ward at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) after being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism at 12 weeks pregnant.
Realising she wasn’t experiencing normal pregnancy symptoms, dizziness, shortness of breath, Emilie visited Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) where doctors found a blood clot, which had travelled to her lungs, blocking a blood vessel and compromising blood flow.
Emilie said: “I wasn’t aware of this illness before I had it and it is a life-threatening condition that can happen to anyone. I was only 26 when I was diagnosed, it was a scary time; I spent over two weeks on a ward at QMC and had to have lots of extra checks throughout my pregnancy.
“Trusting your instincts and getting treated early is so important. Being able to advocate for yourself and not minimising or ignoring symptoms is vital, even if you think it might not be necessary in the moment, there is no harm in mentioning it.”
Thrombosis is the term used to describe large unwanted clots that form within veins or arteries and lead to serious complications. Thrombosis is one of the main causes of heart attacks, strokes, and venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Pulmonary embolism is one type of thrombosis. The key symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are chest pain, shortness of breath, a red and painful leg, and a fast heartbeat.
According to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 1 in 4 worldwide die from conditions caused by thrombosis. This includes other types of blood clots such as heart attacks or stroke, but this is a case of raising awareness of VTE.
At NUH there is a team of specialists who work with clinical teams to identify patients who are at risk of thrombosis and provide them with the appropriate treatment.
Jo Webb, a Nurse Specialist in Clinical Haematology at NUH, said: "It is vital you look out for key warning signs of VTE. Being unwell in hospital, having surgery, having a diagnosis of cancer or a family history in a first degree relative as well as pregnancy can all make VTE more likely. If you have symptoms of a blood clot you should always seek prompt medical advice as blood clots can be treated.”
Emilie added: “Raising awareness around pulmonary embolisms, and all thrombosis conditions, is vitally important so people know about the conditions and what symptoms to look out for. There isn’t enough awareness of thrombosis conditions, and this needs to change. It is a serious, but often unknown condition that can have devastating consequences.
“I am so thankful and overly grateful to say that I have a healthy 10-month-old daughter and that we are both well now. The cardiology department at QMC and doctors at City Hospital were truly amazing during my stay. I felt reassured and well-cared for, and I genuinely thank them from the bottom of my heart for looking after me so well. It was a very challenging and scary experience for me and my family, but they made me feel safe and put me at the centre to make sure everything would be okay.”
Earlier this week marked World Thrombosis Day, a vital opportunity to raise awareness about this serious, yet often overlooked and misunderstood condition.