Why Blood Clots in the legs can be fatal - SLUCare Health Watch

Blood clots in the deep veins of the legs and pelvis are known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Usually, with prompt diagnosis and treatment, DVTs are not life-threatening. However, if a clot breaks free and travels through the veins to the lungs, it’s known as pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal.

The CDC estimates that as many as 900,000 people in the U.S. are affected by DVT and PE each year, and nearly 100,000 people die every year. Most people who die from PE do so within 30-60 minutes of the onset of symptoms, which include chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, cough. More information online at www.slucare.edu

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SLUCare Physician Group is a patient-centered network of more than 500 health care providers on staff at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. As part of an academic medical practice, SLUCare physicians are experts in their respective fields, providing specialty care for even the most complex medical conditions. SLUCare physicians practice in 47 different hospitals and clinics throughout the St. Louis region, making high-quality, advanced care convenient for you and your family.