Symptoms

The symptoms of pulmonary embolism may include:

• Shortness of breath that may occur suddenly.
• Sudden, sharp chest pain that may become worse with deep breathing or coughing.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Rapid breathing.
• Sweating.
• Anxiety.
• Coughing up blood or pink, foamy mucus.
• Fainting.
• Heart palpitations.
• Signs of shock.

Pulmonary embolism may be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms may occur with or are similar to other conditions, such as a heart attack, a panic attack, or pneumonia. Also, some people with pulmonary embolism do not have symptoms.

See a list of other conditions with similar symptoms.