Sitting for long periods of time can increase the chances of developing a blood clot in one or both legs. Sometimes getting up from a sitting position can cause the clots to move into the lung's blood vessels. This refers to a potentially fatal condition called pulmonary thrombosis, also known as pulmonary embolism. Shortness of breath, a cough and chest pain are a few of its symptoms, says the Mayo Clinic. Medications and surgical procedures can effectively treat pulmonary thrombosis.
Anticoagulant Medications
Anticoagulant medications are utilized to prevent blood clots from forming in the first place. Warfarin is an example of a typically used anticoagulant medication to treat pulmonary thrombosis. According to Drugs.com, warfarin can also be used to prevent a heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke and even death.
Warfarin's side effects include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, gas (flatulence), hair loss and bloating, says Drugs.com. Warfarin can also cause skin discoloration, diarrhea, chills, fever, nosebleeds, visual problems and light-headedness.
Combining warfarin with such anti-inflammatory medications as aspirin, celecoxib, acetaminophen and indomethacin increases the risk for bleeding in the digestive tract. It is important to note that vitamin K found in such foods as broccoli, cabbage and collards can reduce warfarin's effectiveness, says Drugs.com.
Warfarin contaminates breast milk, so it shouldn't be used while breastfeeding.
Thrombolytic Medications
Thrombolytic medications are used to break up blood clots. Streptokinase is a specific thrombolytic drug. According to the Mayo Clinic, streptokinase's common side effects include confusion, blurry vision, sweating, fatigue, a fever, dizziness, light-headedness and fainting. Streptokinase can also cause bruising, red spots on the skin, coughing up blood (hemoptysis), bloody urine and nosebleeds (epistaxis). Rarely does streptokinase cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
Streptokinase can lead to mild to moderate bleeding. In some cases, the bleeding can be severe. Inform a physician if abnormal bleeding persists.
Other Treatments
The Mayo Clinic says that direct clot removal using a thin tube (catheter) is another way to treat pulmonary thrombosis. Another option involves implanting a vena cava filter into the inferior vena cava, the lung's major artery. This serves as basket to catch any clots prior to them reaching the pulmonary artery (another type of lung artery).
According to the Debakey Department of Surgery, vena cava filters are indicated when medications do not work. Bleeding, a stroke, blood clots and pulmonary embolism are complications of vena cava filters.
