Pulmonary embolism is a serious medical condition. Gathering right information about it is very important for a patient and his family. Given below are some of the questions that must be asked to the physician when this condition is suspected in a person.
Before dealing with questions to ask a doctor about pulmonary embolism, let’s first gather basic knowledge about the disease. When one or more blood vessels in the lungs get blocked, thereby, restricting adequate supply of blood to the lungs, increasing blood pressure in pulmonary arteries, and decreasing oxygen supply to the lungs, it is known as pulmonary embolism. This blockage is usually due to a blood clot that is formed in some other part of the body but gets dislodged and reaches the lung via bloodstream. Most commonly, blood clots formed in deep veins of leg break loose and lead to pulmonary embolism. Other reasons like air bubbles, part of a tumor, or fat present in the marrow of a damaged bone can also be a cause behind this condition. However, such instances are less common.
When a patient is diagnosed with a medical condition, he and his family members must be aware about the disease he is dealing with. Concerned physician is the best person to answer all doubts pertaining to it. He will be able to provide guidance throughout the treatment and during the recovery stage. Before putting the queries forward, one must know which questions must be asked to the physician so that no stone is left unturned. Given below is a list of questions to ask a doctor after pulmonary embolism is suspected in a patient.
Questions Regarding Pulmonary Embolism
Related to Diagnosis
- Which tests will be conducted to confirm pulmonary embolism?
- How much time will be required for all the tests?
- Which test will be conducted to check the condition of the heart?
- What are the test results?
- If the test results are positive, what is the severity of the condition?
- Are there any other tests that must be taken up during the course of treatment?
Related to Disease
- What is pulmonary embolism and what are its causes?
- What are its symptoms and which ones must be monitored carefully?
- Is a blood clot detected through diagnosis?
- What is the reason behind the development of this blood clot or where has it come from?
- Are blood clots present in other parts of the body?
- What can be done to identify development of new clots?
- What must be done if a new clot is suspected to develop?
Related to Treatment
- Does this problem have a permanent cure?
- How much time will be required for the entire treatment?
- What is the plan of treatment for the condition?
- How long will anticoagulant therapy continue?
- Are there any side effects of anticoagulant therapy?
- What is the target International Normalized Ratio (INR)?
- What levels of INR are a cause of concern?
- Where can INR monitoring be done and how many times it must be tested?
- Are home INR machines good enough for use?
- Are there any chances of surgery?
- If yes, what precautions must be taken before and after surgery?
- What to expect after pulmonary embolism surgery?
- Is there a natural treatment available for this condition?
Related to Hospitalization
- Is hospitalization required during treatment?
- How long can the hospital stay be?
- Is it possible to have a copy of all the tests and procedures that will be carried out at the hospital?
- Which specialized team of doctors will handle treatment during hospitalization?
- Are there any specific instructions to be followed during hospital stay?
Related to Diet
- Is there a need to follow a specific diet plan?
- Are there any chances of food and medication interaction?
- Can drinking lots of water help in preventing blood clots?
- If yes, how much water must be consumed daily?
Related to Travel
- Is traveling allowed during the course of treatment?
- What precautions must be followed during traveling?
- Will compression stockings help during travel?
Related to Pregnancy
- Which type of birth control can be used during treatment?
- Is it safe to conceive when suffering from pulmonary embolism?
- What must be done in case pregnancy is detected?
Related to Recovery
- How much time will be required for recovery?
- Are there any chances of recurrence of the condition?
- After how long can the daily activities like work, etc., be resumed?
- Is there any restriction on physical activity?
- What can be done to get back the lost stamina due to the illness?
- Is there any test to confirm whether blood clots have dissolved or not?
- Is there a restriction on the use of over-the-counter medications for cold, flu, allergy, etc.?
- What will be the frequency of follow-up visits?
Asking above questions to the doctor will help in understanding the condition, treatment, and its relevance. Lack of knowledge can be quite dangerous as people fail to identify critical conditions which can be handled in the right way with the right knowledge. Pulmonary embolism can turn out to be life-threatening in some cases. So, it is a wise step to get all questions answered before it’s too late.
