Doctors guide a catheter—a thin, flexible tube—through a small incision either in the groin or in the neck, and into the artery in the lungs. The catheter is then positioned next to the clot, so the doctor can break it up or remove it.

Drinking plenty of water can help dissolve blood clots as it helps keep the blood thin and flowing smoothly. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day is recommended to help prevent blood clots from forming.

Thrombosis is when a blood clot, or thrombus, forms in a blood vessel. An embolus is when a clot, fat, air bubble, or other feature travels through blood vessels, with a risk of lodging elsewhere. Both can block blood flow and increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Without treatment, a pulmonary embolism is a very serious condition that can lead to permanent illness or death. Some people die suddenly or a few hours after a pulmonary embolism happens.