Shortness of Breath
One genuine concern about a blood clot in the arm, or deep vein thrombosis, even if it happens rarely, is its ability to break apart. More lumps are sent into the bloodstream when fragmentation occurs. These blood clots wedge into the arteries and different body organs. The lungs are the common target of such fragmentation. When a blood clot wedges into the lungs, a pulmonary embolism occurs. This is probably the biggest and most dangerous complication of a blood clot.
Pulmonary embolism may block the lung arteries, causing sudden breathlessness. The severity of this symptom varies depending on the extent of the affected area. For some, it may appear mild, barely noticeable chest discomfort. For others, it may occur as severe chest pain that comes with a bloody cough and an increasingly rapid heart rate. When shortness of breath appears with the severe complications of a blood clot, the patient needs to see a doctor immediately.
