Recent Atlanta Deaths Point to Importance of Watching for Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism Getting

Oct. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Two recent deaths in Atlanta highlight the importance of understanding the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism and the importance of quickly seeking treatment if you think you may be experiencing the symptoms of one.  Some symptoms of a pulmonary embolism – like low fever, labored breathing, leg swelling, fainting or a rapid pulse – may seem benign and the kind of thing a person might just wait out.
More severe symptoms include coughing up blood, bluish skin and pain when moving or breathing.  More than 500,000 to 600,000 people are hospitalized each year and about 100,000 people die from pulmonary embolism each year.  Death can occur within 30 to 60 minutes from the onset of symptoms without treatment, so it’s important that anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms seriously consider seeking medical treatment, according to David A. Martin, president and CEO of VeinInnovations, Atlanta’s leading vein treatment clinic.
“Some of these symptoms may feel like the kind of thing a person can ignore or that will just go away if they take it easy for a bit,” he said, “but knowing the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism and seeking medical treatment quickly can literally mean the difference between life and death.”  
A pulmonary embolism usually results from a blood clot in the leg moving into and blocking blood flow in the lungs.  If a person with a pulmonary embolism doesn’t die, long-term effects from lack of oxygen to the lungs caused by the blockage can also include permanent damage to the lungs or other organs.  So when first experiencing symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, minutes truly count toward saving a life and reducing long-term damage.  Treatment for a pulmonary embolism includes anticoagulant medications or blood thinners which help prevent clots from forming and help keep clots from getting larger.
Martin, RN, CRNFA received his degree in Nursing in 1980, and since then has worked primarily in the field of cardiovascular medicine.  After 10 years in intensive care units and emergency rooms, he became board certified as a Registered Nurse First Assistant, and went to work with heart and chest surgeons as a first assistant both in the operating room and on the wards. One of his responsibilities was the harvesting of saphenous veins for use as conduit in coronary bypass surgery, and in 1994, he became the first in Georgia to do this using a scope rather than the traditional open incision method. This method has become the standard of care in Georgia and is now used in virtually every operating room in the country.  In 2002, Martin founded VeinInnovations as the first facility of its kind in Atlanta to offer every available technique for the treatment of venous insufficiency and varicose/spider veins.  Nine years later, they are still the only facility in Georgia to do this and are widely regarded as a leader in the field for office-based treatment for venous disease.
For more information about the symptoms of pulmonary embolism, please visit http://www.apsfa.org/pesymptoms.htm#17 or visit VeinInnovations at www.veininnovations.com to discuss vein health and treatment issues.
Martin is available to discuss the symptoms and treatments of pulmonary embolism or other vein health issues.  Please contact Mark Scott with Schroder Public Relations at 404-872-7289 ext. 4, 404-771-8658 (cell) or mark@schroderpr.com.