Risk Factors Of Yaz Pulmonary Embolism

Ocella, Yasmin and Yaz birth control pills are known as combined-hormone oral contraceptives because they blend estrogen with a progestin called drospirenone. This combination has been known to increase the risk of blood clots 6.3-fold when compared to non-use. Blood clots are not dangerous when they form within superficial veins near the surface of your skin. This is because they rarely detach themselves from the site. As such, they do not cause a pulmonary embolism.

Deep vein thrombosis is entirely different. Deep veins are surrounded by muscles that contract whenever they move. Their contractions squeeze the deep veins, pushing blood toward the vena cava (the largest blood vessel in your body). Those contractions can also cause blood clots to break loose from their site and travel along with your bloodstream.

How A Blood Clot Reaches Your Pulmonary Arteries

A blood clot that is carried along by your bloodstream is called an embolus. As the embolus travels up the deep vein, it approaches the inferior vena cava. This is the main blood vessel that delivers oxygen-poor blood from the lower portion of your body to your heart.

The embolus can travel through the inferior vena cava and enter your heart’s right atrium. From there, it continues traveling with the oxygen-poor blood through the tricuspid valve into your heart’s right ventricle. The clot is then pumped out of the ventricle through the pulmonary valve into a pulmonary artery.

Your pulmonary arteries supply blood to your lungs. The blood is oxygenated before being returned to your heart. If the embolus blocks one of these arteries, it causes pulmonary embolism. As a result, the portion of your lung tissue that is fed by the blocked artery will begin to starve.

If the blockage is not treated, your lung tissue can become permanently damaged. It is estimated that nearly 30% of untreated cases of PE ultimately result in the death of the patient. Even if the embolus is not large enough to completely block a pulmonary artery, Yaz PE can still lead to serious complications.

Potential Complications Of Yaz PE

When one of your pulmonary arteries become partially blocked, your heart needs to work harder in order to pump blood. Not only does that reduce the efficiency of your heart, but it creates higher blood pressure within the blocked arteries. This is known as pulmonary hypertension. As your heart pumps harder to force blood through the constricted artery, pressure builds.

This is a losing battle for your heart. Ultimately, less blood is delivered to your lungs, which means less oxygen-rich blood is sent throughout the rest of your body. As a result, you’ll tire more quickly and experience difficulty breathing.

Yaz pulmonary embolism symptoms can be fatal if a blood clot is large enough, and the blockage it creates is left untreated. However, it’s important to realize that smaller clots can also be dangerous if they cause your heart to work harder than it should. If you have suffered blood clots, DVT, or pulmonary embolism after taking Ocella, Yasmin or Yaz birth control, you may have the right to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact a Yasmin pumonary embolism lawsuit lawyer to discuss your case and for the latest litigation updates.

Women suffering from Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella side effect have looked at their legal options including filing a Yaz blood clot lawsuit. A pulmonary embolism is a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention. It is estimated that nearly one third of those who suffer PE and do not receive treatment will die. Among those who survive, the event can leave lasting impairments that persist throughout the remainder of their lives.

When doctors explain the potential side effects of Yaz birth control, they often focus on the elevated risk of blood clots. However, they seldom make clear how such clots can trigger pulmonary embolism and other serious outcomes (e.g. stroke, heart attack, etc.). This article will describe how Yaz blood clots can form in your legs and migrate to your lungs. You’ll also learn how PE is treated with the goal of preserving your lungs’ function and preventing a recurrence.

How Blood Clots Lodge Within Your Lungs

Pulmonary embolism occurs due to a blockage within one of the arteries that supply your lungs with blood. The associated lung tissue is starved of blood and sustains damage. If the blockage is left untreated, the damage becomes permanent. A large PE that affects a significant portion of your lung tissue can cause a lasting impairment. The affected lung will become less capable of oxygenating blood before it circulates to other organs throughout your body.

Blockages are usually caused by blood clots (though air bubbles, fat, and other substances can play a role). In such cases, the clots rarely form within the pulmonary arteries; instead, they arrive from other areas of your body after breaking away from the deep veins.

Clots within your deep veins characterize a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The veins are squeezed by surrounding muscles, which encourages blood to flow back to your heart and lungs for oxygen. This squeezing activity can also dislodge existing clots from the venous wall and send them along with your bloodstream. As emboli (i.e. migrating clots), they can enter the right side of your heart and travel into your pulmonary arteries, thus causing a pulmonary embolism.

Treating Yaz PE To Preserve Your Lungs’ Function

Treatment is first administered in the form of blood thinners. These drugs – warfarin and heparin – do not actually thin your blood; they reduce the likelihood of further clotting. Because pulmonary embolism is so dangerous, heparin is usually administered first since it can be done so intravenously. Warfarin, by contrast, is given in pill form and often takes up to a week to have an effect. It may be given at the same time as heparin; once it begins to take effect, heparin is stopped.

After the threat of further clotting has been addressed, doctors will determine the risk posed by the existing blockage. If the risk is high, thrombolytic medications are used. These drugs, delivered by catheter, dissolve clots. The drawback of using them is that they increase the risk of bleeding.

If thrombolysis is insufficient for treating a dangerous blood clot in your lungs, your doctor may decide to perform suction thrombectomy or pulmonary embolectomy. The former is a catheter-based technique that seeks to shatter the offending clot and remove the pieces. The latter is a surgical procedure used to extract the entire clot. It is reserved for life-threatening situations.

Yaz Side Effects: More Serious Than Many Realize

Yaz birth control side effects involving pulmonary embolism can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, the event is triggered by circumstances many women consider relatively benign: blood clots in the deep veins. If these clots break away and travel with your bloodstream, they can potentially block critical arteries that supply blood to your lungs, heart, and brain. If you or someone you know has suffered blood clots, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or stroke after using this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz lawyer. Now is the time to explore whether you should file a Yaz blood clot lawsuit.

Pulmonary embolism and Yaz may pose serious risks and long-term side effects. The condition is characterized by a blockage within one of the pulmonary arteries. These arteries supply your lungs with blood. A small blockage may not cause problems if blood can still pass through and reach the lung tissue. Likewise, if the portion of lung tissue supplied by that blood vessel is very small, even a complete blockage might have little noticeable effect. If you have suffered from Yaz side effects caused by blood clots please contact us for a free case review.

By contrast, a large obstruction can be extremely dangerous and carry lasting impacts. The lung tissue, cut off from its supply of blood, may starve. The healthy tissue is eventually replaced with scarring, which cannot properly oxygenate your blood before your heart circulates it throughout your body.

In cases where immediate treatment is unavailable, massive pulmonary embolism can be fatal. On this page, you’ll learn how Yaz PE is triggered by blood clots and how it can be prevented with a vena cava filter.

Yaz Blood Clots In The Deep Veins

The combination of hormones contained in Yaz birth control (estrogen and drospirenone) has been found to sharply elevate the risk of abnormal blood clots. When those clots form in the deep veins (a condition called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT), there is a risk they will break away from the venous wall. Detached, they can travel with your bloodstream.

Blood from the deep veins of your legs and pelvis must return to your lungs to pick up more oxygen. It does this by traveling through a large vein called the inferior vena cava. Traveling clots (called emboli) can migrate through this same vein on their way to your lungs and pulmonary arteries.

It is estimated that 90% of pulmonary embolism cases are caused by deep venous blood clots that form in the legs. Once DVT develops, treatment is focused on preventing clots from causing PE.

Installing An Inferior Vena Cava Filter

Treatment begins with anticoagulant therapy; the goal is to prevent existing clots from growing larger and reduce the likelihood of further clotting. Heparin is administered intravenously and begins working immediately. Warfarin is given in pill form and takes a few days to have an effect. Once warfarin starts to work, heparin is stopped.

In some cases, the anticoagulant drugs have little to no effect. In other cases, the drugs are tolerated poorly by the patient’s body and must be stopped. In such circumstances, doctors will often recommend the installation of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.

An IVC filter is a metal net. It is positioned within your vena cava to catch emboli as they travel toward your heart and lungs. Blood is allowed to flow through the net unimpeded.

In the past, the filter was installed through surgery. That’s no longer the case as the design of vena cava filters has evolved; they can now be placed by threading a catheter to the site and deploying the net. Your doctor will decide which vein to use in accessing the IVC based on the location of existing clots. The groin and neck are common entry points (through the femoral and internal jugular veins, respectively). Less common is the arm.

It is important to realize that installing an IVC filter does not resolve blood clots that are present in the deep veins. It merely stops them from reaching your lungs. In doing so, the filter prevents the emboli from triggering Yaz pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary and Yaz side effects is a dangerous condition that can produce life-changing impacts, including permanent lung damage. If you or someone you know has suffered blood clots, DVT, pulmonary embolism, or other Yaz birth control side effects, explore whether you should file a lawsuit. Contact a Yaz lawyer who will investigate your case.

Pulmonary embolism and Yaz may pose serious risks and long-term side effects. The condition is characterized by a blockage within one of the pulmonary arteries. These arteries supply your lungs with blood. A small blockage may not cause problems if blood can still pass through and reach the lung tissue. Likewise, if the portion of lung tissue supplied by that blood vessel is very small, even a complete blockage might have little noticeable effect. If you have suffered from Yaz side effects caused by blood clots please contact us for a free case review.

By contrast, a large obstruction can be extremely dangerous and carry lasting impacts. The lung tissue, cut off from its supply of blood, may starve. The healthy tissue is eventually replaced with scarring, which cannot properly oxygenate your blood before your heart circulates it throughout your body.

In cases where immediate treatment is unavailable, massive pulmonary embolism can be fatal. On this page, you’ll learn how Yaz PE is triggered by blood clots and how it can be prevented with a vena cava filter.

Yaz Blood Clots In The Deep Veins

The combination of hormones contained in Yaz birth control (estrogen and drospirenone) has been found to sharply elevate the risk of abnormal blood clots. When those clots form in the deep veins (a condition called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT), there is a risk they will break away from the venous wall. Detached, they can travel with your bloodstream.

Blood from the deep veins of your legs and pelvis must return to your lungs to pick up more oxygen. It does this by traveling through a large vein called the inferior vena cava. Traveling clots (called emboli) can migrate through this same vein on their way to your lungs and pulmonary arteries.

It is estimated that 90% of pulmonary embolism cases are caused by deep venous blood clots that form in the legs. Once DVT develops, treatment is focused on preventing clots from causing PE.

Installing An Inferior Vena Cava Filter

Treatment begins with anticoagulant therapy; the goal is to prevent existing clots from growing larger and reduce the likelihood of further clotting. Heparin is administered intravenously and begins working immediately. Warfarin is given in pill form and takes a few days to have an effect. Once warfarin starts to work, heparin is stopped.

In some cases, the anticoagulant drugs have little to no effect. In other cases, the drugs are tolerated poorly by the patient’s body and must be stopped. In such circumstances, doctors will often recommend the installation of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.

An IVC filter is a metal net. It is positioned within your vena cava to catch emboli as they travel toward your heart and lungs. Blood is allowed to flow through the net unimpeded.

In the past, the filter was installed through surgery. That’s no longer the case as the design of vena cava filters has evolved; they can now be placed by threading a catheter to the site and deploying the net. Your doctor will decide which vein to use in accessing the IVC based on the location of existing clots. The groin and neck are common entry points (through the femoral and internal jugular veins, respectively). Less common is the arm.

It is important to realize that installing an IVC filter does not resolve blood clots that are present in the deep veins. It merely stops them from reaching your lungs. In doing so, the filter prevents the emboli from triggering Yaz pulmonary embolism side effects.

Pulmonary and Yaz side effects can produce life-changing impacts, including permanent lung damage. If you or someone you know has suffered blood clots, DVT, pulmonary embolism, or other Yaz birth control side effects, explore whether you should file a lawsuit. Contact one of our Yaz lawyers who will investigate your case.

Yaz and pulmonary embolism side effects have placed otherwise healthy women at risk of suffering a potentially life-threatening event. It is estimated that a third of all diagnosed PE cases in which patients do not receive treatment end in death. Despite this, many women who are taking Yaz birth control may not fully understand the extent of the dangers. Among those who are aware of the risks, many questions remain.

Below, you’ll find the answers to several questions women are increasingly asking about Yasmin birth control side effects. Some women have discovered the risks are higher than they realized.

“How Does Yaz And Pulmonary Embolism Occur?”

Nearly all cases of PE begin with one or more blood clots that form within the deep veins, typically in your legs. This is a condition known as deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Your deep veins are surrounded by groups of muscles. When you move, these muscles contract and squeeze the veins. That sends your blood flowing back to your heart and lungs to pick up oxygen before recirculating throughout your body. If clots are present in these veins, your muscles’ contractions can cause them to break away from the venous wall. Newly detached, they are carried along with your bloodstream.

If the clots travel through the right side of your heart and block a pulmonary artery, they can starve the lung tissue fed by that artery. You will suffer a pulmonary embolism.

“What Are The Symptoms Of a PE?”

The symptoms you experience will be dependent on the extent of the arterial blockage. Small Yaz blood clots in your lungs may not cause noticeable signs, especially if you suffer from other health conditions, such as coronary artery disease. That said, when symptoms present, they do so quickly.

You might feel lightheaded and have difficulty taking deep breaths. You may also experience anxiety, bouts of coughing, and pain in your chest and jaw (similar to a heart attack). In some cases, coughing is accompanied by bloody sputum. If the offending clot is large, it can cause your blood pressure to plummet, putting your life in immediate danger.

“Can I Prevent It From Happening?”

If blood clots have already formed in your deep veins, your doctor may suggest having an inferior vena cava filter installed. Your inferior vena cava (IVC) is a large vein through which blood flows from your lower body to your heart. A metal filter can be installed within your IVC to catch clots that have broken away before they can travel to your lungs and block a pulmonary artery.

“How Is Yaz Pulmonary Embolism Treated?”

Once your blood oxygen and blood pressure levels have been stabilized, a doctor will administer antiocoagulants to prevent further clotting. These are usually enough to avert subsequent problems, especially if the clots are small and can be broken down by your body.

If the pulmonary embolism is large and your life is at risk, a doctor may administer thrombolytic medications. These drugs represent a more aggressive approach than antiocoagulants, and can help dissolve dangerous clots. The problem is, thrombolytics pose a higher risk of bleeding.

Severe PE that is unresponsive to antiocoagulants and thrombolytics can be treated with a catheter technique called suction thrombectomy. Your doctor will thread a catheter into the blocked pulmonary artery and either break apart or extract the offending clots. In rare cases, doctors will perform an embolectomy to remove clots that have caused a massive pulmonary embolism.

“Should I File A Yaz Pulmonary Embolism Lawsuit?”

Women who have never experienced problems with abnormal clotting have developed blood clots after using Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. These birth control pills combines estrogen with drospirenone, a synthetic progestin hormone. Together, they are known to significantly increase the risk of clotting.

If you have suffered blood clots, DVT, or pulmonary embolism after using this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz blood clot attorney who will investigate your case.

Yasmin causing blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) occurs when solid matter (typically a blood clot) blocks one of the arteries that supplies blood to your lungs. In most diagnosed cases, the clot arrives from another area of your body after traveling through your bloodstream. The blockage prevents your lung tissue from receiving the blood it needs in order to function properly. This can result in permanent damage to the lung. Please contact us for more information on being part of a Yaz blood clot lawsuit.

There are a number of dangerous, lasting side effects of Yaz clots. First, your lungs are tasked with oxygenating blood before it circulates throughout your body. Lung damage can impair this process, thereby preventing a sufficient amount of oxygen from reaching other organs. Second, with PE, your heart is forced to work harder in order to pump blood through the unblocked pulmonary arteries. Excess strain can eventually cause heart failure.

Treatment for Yaz pulmonary embolism varies by the condition’s severity and the danger posed by migrating blood clots (known as emboli). This article will describe the use of blood thinners, thrombolytic therapy, surgery, and preventative measures.

Blood Thinners And Thrombolytic Medications

The immediate goal of treatment is to reduce your symptoms; doctors will often administer oxygen, pain relievers, and blood pressure medications. If your respiratory system is failing, a breathing tube might also be necessary.

Once your symptoms are under control, blood thinners such as warfarin and heparin are given to prevent further clotting. Warfarin is delivered intravenously; heparin is given in pill form. Both are typically prescribed simultaneously, though heparin is stopped once tests indicate warfarin has begun to take effect.

Thrombolytic drugs can be used if you suffer a severe pulmonary embolism that places your life in danger, or is likely to cause extensive lung damage. These drugs are delivered through a catheter, and can dissolve clots. They represent a more aggressive form of treatment than warfarin or heparin (which merely prevent clotting). The drawback is that thrombolytics pose a higher risk of internal bleeding.

Yaz Blood Clot Elimination Through Surgery

If your body is unable to tolerate blood thinners and thrombolytic drugs, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the offending clots. There are two main procedures: suction thrombectomy and pulmonary embolectomy.

Suction thrombectomy is a catheter procedure (and hence, less invasive than embolectomy). The catheter is guided to the blockage within your pulmonary artery. Once it arrives, a saline-based solution is injected into the site. The resulting pressure pulls the blood clot toward the catheter’s tip, which breaks the clot apart.

Pulmonary embolectomy is typically used as a last resort for massive PE; the procedure is invasive and dangerous. While a growing number of surgeons are performing it with a catheter, the operation is normally done through thoracotomy. A long incision is made into the chest through which the offending blood clot is extracted.

Measures To Prevent A Pulmonary Embolism

Most cases of Yaz causing blood clots in the lungs are caused by blood clots that migrate from the deep veins of your calves and thighs. The clots break off and travel with your bloodstream through a large vein called the vena cava. This vein leads directly to your heart and lungs.

If you suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), your doctor may suggest installing a metal filter within your vena cava. The filter acts like a net. As emboli travel through the large vein, the filter catches them before they can reach your heart.

Another preventative measure is to wear compression stockings around your lower legs. These stockings apply artificial pressure and thus, stimulate blood flow. It’s worth noting that they will not prevent blood clots from breaking away from the venous walls.

Yaz and pulmonary embolism is dangerous. The clots must be treated quickly in order to limit lung damage. If you or someone you love has suffered deep vein thrombosis, PE, stroke, or other serious side effects of using Ocella, Yasmin or Yaz birth control, seek legal advice. You may be due compensation for your injuries. Contact a Yaz pulmonary embolism attorney to discuss filing a claim against the manufacturer.

One Yaz blood clot risk is the result of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which blood clots form within a deep vein. As long as the clots remain attached to the site at which they form, they are rarely life-threatening. You may experience minor circulation issues, notice swelling, and feel a degree of pain. The true danger materializes when the blood clots break loose. Please contact us for more information on your legal rights including filing a Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella lawsuit.

Deep veins are buried within groups of muscles. The muscles contract when you move and help push oxygen-poor blood toward your heart. The contractions can also dislodge blood clots that have formed within the deep veins. The clots can travel with your bloodstream into the inferior vena cava, a large vein that sends blood from the lower portion of your body to your heart. The clots pass through your heart’s right atrium into the right ventricle, and into a pulmonary artery. If they create a large enough obstruction within the artery, they can cause Yaz PE.

Pulmonary embolism is potentially fatal. It is critical that the condition is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

Tests To Diagnose Yaz Clots

One of the challenges of diagnosing pulmonary embolism is that symptoms can mirror those that accompany heart attack. For example, you might experience a shortness of breath or an accelerated heartbeat. You might feel lightheaded or dizzy. If you are not in need of emergency treatment, your doctor will perform one or more diagnostic tests to clarify the cause of your symptoms.

After doing a physical exam and reviewing your medical history, your physician will take x-rays of your chest. Even though the images cannot show clots within your pulmonary arteries, they will help rule out other factors that may be triggering your symptoms.

A V/Q (ventilation-perfusion) lung scan is then performed to examine the flow of blood and air through your lungs. This is done in two parts. First, you’ll be asked to inhale radioactive material. Second, radioactive tracers are injected into your arm. Combined, these substances help your doctor identify Yaz pulmonary embolism.

A conventional CT (computerized tomography) scan can be used to produce 2-dimensional images of your chest area. Spiral and helical CT scans are more popular because they rotate around your body and produce 3-dimensional images. They are faster, more precise, and offer a higher degree of accuracy for diagnosing PE.

Pulmonary angiograms are more accurate than any current diagnostic test used to identify PE. That said, they are seldom performed. They require a high level of specialized skill, and can potentially trigger an arrhythmia or damage your kidneys. Your doctor may order a pulmonary angiogram if he or she is unable to conclusively diagnose PE with other tests.

A D-dimer test can rule out the presence of blood clots in your pulmonary arteries. D-dimers are small clot-dissolving protein fragments that are produced in cases of thrombosis. If a D-dimer test does not detect clots (i.e. the test yields a negative result), pulmonary embolism can be ruled out. However, because these particles can be produced by other factors, a positive result is not a conclusive diagnosis for Yasmin pulmonary embolism.

Additional tests that can be performed to help rule out other conditions include ultrasound, chest MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and electrocardiogram.

Have You Suffered A Pulmonary Embolism?

It is worth emphasizing that some otherwise healthy women who have never experienced blood clots have suffered abnormal clotting after using Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth control. This combined-hormone oral contraceptive is known to carry an increased risk of blood clots. If those clots form within a deep vein, Yaz pulmonary embolism becomes a danger. If you or someone you know has suffered clotting, DVT, or PE after taking these birth control pill, contact a birth control lawyer to discuss your legal options including filing a Yaz / Ocella lawsuit.

Yaz birth control pills may increase the risk of abnormal clotting. This article will provide a step-by-step outline that describes how Yasmin blood clots can lead to a pulmonary embolism. I’ll describe common forms of treatment and explain how you can live a healthy life after experiencing Yaz PE. While the condition is considered a medical emergency, it does not have to be fatal.

How Do Blood Clots Reach The Lungs?

As noted, taking Yaz birth control pills elevates the risk of developing abnormal blood clots. This is due to the combination of ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and drospirenone (a synthetic progestin) contained within the contraceptive.

Blood clots can form within superficial veins near the surface of your skin or within deep veins that are buried within groups of muscles. Deep veins connect to your vena cava, the largest vein in your body. The vena cava leads to your heart. When clots form within deep veins (a condition known as deep venous thrombosis, or DVT), there is a danger that they can break loose. If this happens, the clot can be carried along by your bloodstream into the vena cava and directly toward your heart.

The traveling blood clot (called an embolus) can pass through the right side of your heart into a pulmonary artery. Depending on its size and any existing deposits within the artery, the embolus can block the flow of blood into your lung tissue. Your lung tissue, starved of blood, will sustain damage. The damage can be permanent. Meanwhile, your lungs’ ability to send oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your organs will be impaired.

This is the chain of events that lead to a Yaz-induced pulmonary embolism.

Initial Treatment For Yaz PE

Once the condition has been diagnosed, your doctor will administer anticoagulants to reduce your blood’s ability to clot. The most common anticoagulants are heparin and warfarin (or the branded version, Coumadin).

If your body is unable to break apart the clot on its own, your doctor may prescribe thrombolytic medications that can actively dissolve it. If Yaz PE is life-threatening, your doctor may recommend a more aggressive strategy. A catheter can be threaded to the site of the blockage in order to extract the clot. In extreme cases where the clot is unresponsive to other treatment efforts, a pulmonary embolectomy may be performed.

Living A Healthy Life After A Yaz Pulmonary Embolism

After pulmonary embolism has been controlled through anticoagulants, thrombolytics, and other treatment efforts, you’ll likely need to take warfarin for six months. By helping to prevent further clotting, warfarin will reduce the likelihood that you’ll suffer another PE. You may also need to modify your diet since vitamin K can influence the efficacy of warfarin.

If you suffer from DVT, your doctor may decide to implant a filter within your vena cava to catch other clots that might break away from the deep venous site. You might also need to wear compression stockings around your lower leg to encourage circulation and prevent further clotting.

It is possible to live a healthy life after experiencing Yaz pulmonary embolism. The key is to remain vigilant about factors that may contribute to future blood clots. If you have already developed blood clots or DVT, or have suffered from PE after taking Bayer’s birth control pills, you may have legal options. Contact a Yaz PE attorney to discuss them.

In some cases, the clots form within a superficial vein near the surface of the skin; they do not represent an immediate danger. In other cases, they can form within a deep vein. This is a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). While DVT seldom presents an immediate danger, it can lead to life-threatening circumstances. If a clot within a deep vein breaks away and travels with the bloodstream, it can find its way into a pulmonary artery. If the blood clot blocks the flow of blood through that artery, you may experience a pulmonary embolism.

You can lead a relatively normal life after suffering a Yaz PE if you receive treatment. A doctor might prescribe blood thinners and clot dissolvers while a vascular surgeon might recommend filters and in severe cases, invasive surgery.

Heparin Or Warfarin

Heparin and warfarin are blood thinners. They are also called anticoagulants. Neither actually thins your blood; instead, they limit your blood’s ability to clot. By doing so, they can help prevent the formation of future clots while preventing existing clots from growing bigger.

Heparin is administered through IV or needle injection directly into a vein. It usually begins working immediately. Your doctor may also decide to inject a fractionated heparin into your abdomen once or twice a day. Warfarin (or its branded equivalent, Coumadin) is taken as a pill. It may require three or four days to produce an effect.

Clot Dissolvers

If the clot that is blocking a pulmonary artery is large, it can pose an immediate risk to your life. Your doctor may take a more aggressive approach to treating Yasmin pulmonary embolism by administering thrombolytics. These are medications that dissolve clots. While they are effective, they can also cause bleeding, stroke, and other complications. This is the reason many surgeons will only choose this approach if your symptoms are severe.

Filters To Catch Wandering Clots

A metal filter can be placed within your vena cava to prevent future incidents of pulmonary embolism. The vena cava is a large vein in your abdomen that delivers blood to your heart and lungs. The filter can catch blood clots that have detached themselves from a deep vein in your leg. By doing so, it prevents the emboli (wandering clots) from reaching major arteries.

It’s worth underscoring that a vena cava filter does not prevent Yaz blood clots from forming; it merely catches them before they can cause pulmonary embolism.

Suction Thrombectomy And Pulmonary Embolectomy

Depending on the severity of your symptoms and the nature of the condition, your doctor may recommend a suction thrombectomy or pulmonary embolectomy. To perform a suction thrombectomy, a surgeon will guide a catheter to the offending clot. A salt-based solution is injected into the clogged artery and water pressure is used to bring the blood clot closer to the catheter. The catheter is outfitted with a tool to break apart the clot.

A pulmonary embolectomy is similar to a suction thrombectomy. The difference is that the former seeks to completely remove the clot rather than breaking it apart.

Yaz and pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening situation that begins with the formation of blood clots within a deep vein in your leg. If you or a loved one has suffered blood clots after taking this birth control pill, contact a Yaz lawyer to explore your legal options.

Pulmonary arteries feed deoxygenated blood to your lungs. The blood is enriched with oxygen by the lung tissue before it is distributed throughout your body to other organs. If a traveling blood clot lodges within a pulmonary artery, it can prevent blood from reaching your lung tissue. This is called pulmonary embolism. The portion of your lung that depends upon the blocked artery will sustain permanent damage. If multiple arteries become blocked, your other organs may be unable to receive oxygen-rich blood. They too, can suffer damage.

Why Yaz Can Increase The Risk Of Pulmonary Embolism

The risk of blood clots is nothing new to women who are taking oral contraceptives. Most birth control pills that are currently sold in the U.S. contain estrogen, a hormone that encourages coagulation. Yasmin and Yaz birth control increases the risk of clotting due to a synthetic progestin called drospirenone. Researchers have discovered that combining drospirenone with estrogen presents a 6.3-fold rise in the risk of clotting when compared to non-use.

Women who are taking this contraceptive are more likely to develop blood clots in a deep vein within their legs (referred to as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). As a result, they are more likely to experience Yaz pulmonary embolism.

How The Condition Is Diagnosed

Doctors have a number of options they can use to test for pulmonary embolism. Because the condition is difficult to identify, your doctor may need to perform more than one type of test.

The first step is to eliminate any non-PE circumstances that may be triggering your symptoms (i.e. chest pain, shortness of breath, bloody cough, or an arrhythmia). This is done by taking X-rays of your chest. The X-rays cannot diagnose Yasmin pulmonary embolism, but can help your doctor rule out other ailments.

A lung scan can be performed to study the flow of air and blood within your lungs. First, you’ll be asked to inhale a radiopharmaceutical. Then, radioisotopes are injected into your arm. A camera is used to track the tracers as they travel through your airflow and bloodstream. This test, called a ventilation-perfusion scan (or, V/Q scan), has limitations; it cannot diagnose the presence of deep vein thrombosis. This limitation is the reason lung scans are slowly being replaced by spiral computerized tomography scans.

A spiral computerized tomography (or, spiral CT) scan has become the first test many doctors use to diagnose Yaz and pulmonary embolism. A special dye is injected and tracked as it travels through your bloodstream. A spiral scanner creates a three-dimensional image of your lungs and other organs by rotating around your body. A spiral CT is more accurate and far quicker than a traditional CT. Efficiency is important because the dye must be tracked while it is within your pulmonary arteries.

If your doctor is unable to diagnose Yaz PE and has ruled out other conditions, he or she may perform a pulmonary angiogram. It is the most accurate test currently available. Unfortunately, it requires specialized skill to perform and carries serious risks (most notably, arrhythmia and kidney damage).

Should You File A Yaz Lawsuit?

As noted, the inherent risk of blood clots associated with birth control pills is well-known and accepted. However, studies have shown the risk is far greater when taking Yaz. Many women have filed Yaz lawsuits which claim the manufacturer (Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals) failed to sufficiently warn them of the increased risk. If you have taken this oral contraceptive and developed blood clots, DVT, or pulmonary embolism, contact a Yaz attorney to explore your legal options.