10 Conditions That Affect the Lungs

9. Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot in the arteries supplying the lungs. Most occur when a blood clot from the calf breaks off and travels to the lung. The clot goes through the venous system, into the right side of the heart, and then lodges in the pulmonary arterial system.

Symptoms can vary drastically, from no signs at all to death. PE causes as many as ten percent of hospital deaths and kills about 100,000 people annually in the United States. People older than 70 are three times more likely to develop PE than those between 45 and 69, who are, in turn, three times more likely to develop PE than someone between ages 20 and 44.