Yasmin Birth Control and Pulmonary Embolism

by Steve Fields on July 31st, 2009

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the sudden blockage of a major blood vessel (artery) in the lung, usually by a blood clot. In most cases, the clots are small and not deadly, but they can damage the lung. However, if the clot is large and blocks blood flow to the lung, it can be life-threatening. Most blood clots originate in your legs (commonly referred to as DVT), but they can also form in arm veins, the right side of your heart or even at the tip of a catheter placed in a vein. Women have recently reported developing a pulmonary embolism while using the Yasmin birth control pill.

Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms

Pulmonary embolism symptoms can vary greatly, depending on how much of your lung is involved, the size of the clot, the number of blood clots and your general overall health. Common symptoms include:

1. Sudden shortness of breath, active or at rest. This is the most common symptom.

2. Chest pain that often mimics a heart attack. The pain can occur anywhere in your chest and may radiate to your shoulder, arm, neck or jaw. It may be sharp and stabbing or aching and dull and may become worse when you breathe deeply, cough, eat, bend or stoop. The pain will get worse with exertion but will not go away when you rest.

3. A cough that that brings up pink, foamy mucus.

4. Rapid heartbeat.

Other signs and symptoms that can occur include: wheezing, leg swelling, clammy or bluish-colored skin, excessive sweating, anxiety, weak pulse, lightheadedness or fainting, or fever.

PE Causes

In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by a blood clot in the leg that breaks loose and travels to the lungs. A blood clot in a vein close to the skin is not likely to cause problems, but having deep vein thrombosis can lead to pulmonary embolism, called venous thromboembolism (having both pulmonary embolism and DVT). Other, rarer conditions, can block an artery, such as tumors, air bubbles, amniotic fluid, or fat that is released into the blood vessels when a bone is broken.

Diagnosis

Pulmonary embolism can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms are like those of many other problems, such as a heart attack, panic attack or pneumonia. For that reason, your doctor will start by doing a physical exam, ask questions about your health and perform one or more tests to help find the cause of your symptoms.

These tests may include the following:

1. Chest x-ray. This diagnosic test does not diagnose pulmonary embolism, but it may help rule out conditions that are similar.

2. Lung Scan. A ventilation-perfusion scan (V/Q scan) uses small amounts of radioactive tracers to study airflow and blow flow in your lungs. A normal lung scan may rule out pulmonary embolism but not DVT so other tests are often required.

3. Spiral computerized tomography (CT) scan. A spiral or helical CT is quickly becoming the primary initial test for diagnosing suspected pulmonary embolism. Using a dye to help visualize the area, the scan rotates continuously around your body, following a spiral path to create 3-D images. It can detect abnormalities with a greater degree of precision and is faster than traditional CTs.

4. Pulmonary angiogram. This test provides a clear picture of the blood flow in the arteries of your lungs. It is the most accurate way to diagnose pulmonary embolism, but because it requires a high degree of skill to administer and carries potentially serious risks, it is usually performed when other tests fail to provide a definitive diagnosis.

5. Tests for Blood Clots. In addition to tests that check for PE, you may also have tests that aid in diagnosing blood clots in your veins, such as: D-dimer blood test, ultrasound, venography, MRI, and blood tests that look for inherited defects in your clotting system. Women using Yasmin birth control need to be aware of blood clot symptoms and seek medical attention if they are exhibiting any signs of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

We represent all women suffering from Yasmin birth control side effects on a contingency basis which means that there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation case review please call toll free at 1-888-343-5375 or fill out our short online contact form and a Yasmin lawyer will contact you to answer any of your questions.