Embolism
Increased risk
Your risk of an embolismis increased by:
- being overweight or obese having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more
- being pregnant
- being 60 years old or over
- smoking
- having heart disease
- being immobile for long periods of time
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
An embolism is a condition where the blood flow in an artery is blocked by a foreign body, such as a blood clot or an air bubble.
What causes an embolism?
A foreign body is any object or substance which shouldn't be in your blood. Foreign bodies that cause embolisms are known as emboli a single emboli is called an embolus. Blood clots Blood contains n
Increased risk
Your risk of an embolismis increased by: being overweight or obese having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more being pregnant being 60 years old or over smoking having heart disease being i
Treating embolisms
How an embolism is treated will depend on: what caused the blockage the size of the blockage where in the body the blockage is A surgical procedure called an embolectomy is sometimes carried out
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