Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism, the sudden blockage of a major blood vessel in the lungs.  This blockage is usually caused by a blood clot.  In most cases the blood clots are small and not deadly, however they can cause damage to the lungs.  Quick treatment of the blood clots can reduce the risk of future problems or save your life.  When the blood clots become larger and stops the blood flow to the lungs, it can become deadly. 
So how do you know if your body is effected by a pulmonary embolism?  The most common symptoms are: sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pains that becomes worse when you cough or take a deep breath, and a cough that brings up pink foamy mucus can all be signs of a pulmonary embolism.  General symptoms can also occur, such as: feeling anxious, sweating, feeling lightheaded, increasing of heart rate, or fainting.
In order to decrease your risk of pulmoary embolism, staying active can be benefical.  Recent surgery that involved the legs, hips, belly, or brain, pregnancy, childbirth, taking birth control pills or other hormone drugs, smoking, and diseases such as: cancer, stroke, or servere infections can increase your risk of pulmonary embolism. 

http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pulmonary-embolism-topic-overview