A Condition That Was Caught in Time

Pulmonary embolism (Cavallini/Science Source/WSJ)

I had been feeling pretty chipper until the beginning of September. As the month proceeded, my asthma got worse, and I could no longer take 30-45 minute walks in the morning. Last Monday I showed for a scheduled doctor's appointment; the nurse took my vitals and immediately called for oxygen.

The doctor strongly suggested that an ambulance transport me to emergency. Of course, my wife could have driven, but the ambulance had the necessary equipment and personnel if the situation worsened.

Over the next two days I was poked and prodded at Stanford General. There were ultrasounds, chest X-rays, CT scans, echocardiograms, and dozens of blood draws. The good news was that most of the tests were negative. I was short of breath because the asthma had been exacerbated by a blood clot that had formed in the right lung. I will have to take the blood thinner Eliquis indefinitely. I was discharged Wednesday, and my condition wasn't serious enough to warrant being on oxygen at home.

Considering the possible outcomes, I was pretty lucky:

About 900,000 people are diagnosed with blood clots—deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism—in the U.S. each year, according to the American Lung Association. For many, the first symptom is sudden death.

“I call it the people’s disease. It doesn’t spare anyone—rich, poor, male, female,” says Dr. Parth Rali, director of the pulmonary embolism response team at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia... “You could be the healthiest person in the world and unfortunately it can still happen to you.”

Some lifestyle factors increase your risk of blood clots, such as obesity and smoking....Dehydration can thicken the blood. And taking hormonal contraceptives... also raises the risk.

Then there’s movement, or lack thereof. When your legs stay still for too long, the blood may begin to form clots, which can then travel through the heart and into the lungs.

Yes, more things to worry about, but better than the alternative.