Lifestyle

6 Signs of a Pulmonary Embolism Most People Mistake for Something Else

By Erica Coleman · November 6, 2026

Sudden shortness of breath can feel like anxiety. Chest pain can feel like a pulled muscle. A racing pulse can feel like caffeine. Each one is easy to shrug off. Together, they can point to a pulmonary embolism, a sudden blockage in a lung artery that usually starts as a clot elsewhere in the body.

MedlinePlus says a pulmonary embolism, or PE, usually happens when a blood clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. The clot is usually a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, in the leg. PE can cause permanent lung damage, low oxygen in the blood, and damage to other organs. It can be life-threatening, especially if a clot is large or if there are many clots.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute describes PE as a type of venous thromboembolism. NHLBI says symptoms may come on within seconds to minutes, or more slowly over days to weeks. Call a healthcare provider right away if you think you may have symptoms. Untreated PE can lead to serious complications, including death.

Anyone can get a PE. MedlinePlus says risk rises with age, especially after 40, and with recent surgery (especially joint replacement), cancer, heart or lung disease, trauma, hormone therapy, long immobility such as bed rest or a long flight, obesity, and family history or genetics.

These are six signs drawn from MedlinePlus. NHLBI lists several of the same warning signs.

Sudden shortness of breath. MedlinePlus lists shortness of breath among the main PE symptoms. NHLBI also lists it as common. It can feel like you cannot catch your breath for no clear reason.

Rapid breathing. MedlinePlus includes rapid breathing on the symptom list. NHLBI lists it among common PE symptoms as well. Breathing that stays fast when you are at rest is a reason to get checked.

Chest pain or discomfort that usually gets worse when you cough or take a deep breath. MedlinePlus describes that pattern clearly. NHLBI lists pain with deep breathing as a common PE symptom. People often blame a muscle strain or heartburn. Sudden new pain of this kind needs emergency care, not a wait-and-see plan.

A faster heart rate. MedlinePlus lists an increased heart rate. NHLBI lists a higher heart rate among common symptoms. A pulse that stays elevated with shortness of breath or chest pain is not something to ignore.

Coughing up blood. MedlinePlus includes coughing up blood among PE symptoms. NHLBI lists coughing with or without blood as a less common symptom. Blood in a cough with breath trouble is an emergency.

Very low blood pressure, lightheadedness, or fainting. MedlinePlus groups these together. NHLBI lists lightheadedness or fainting among less common PE symptoms. Feeling about to pass out with chest symptoms is a reason to call 911.

MedlinePlus notes that some people with PE have no symptoms until serious complications appear, such as pulmonary hypertension. NHLBI says the same: you may not have symptoms until complications develop. That is why risk factors matter when something new shows up.

If you have sudden chest pain or shortness of breath, get emergency care. MedlinePlus says PE needs medical treatment right away. The goal is to break up clots and keep new ones from forming. Do not diagnose yourself from a list. Only a clinician can decide what is going on after a history, exam, and the tests they order.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or seek emergency care for sudden chest pain or shortness of breath. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.