Serena Williams was recently in the news, not for winning another grand slam, but for a serious health condition. The multiple times Grand Slam winner was taken to a hospital in Los Angeles, where she was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. While undergoing treatment she suffered from hematoma. Although throughout her career she has suffered from many injuries, this is a serious condition, which can result in death as well.
We need to understand what pulmonary embolism is so judge the gravity of the situation that she is going through. Pulmonary embolism is a problem where more than 1 artery in the lungs gets blocked. The biggest reason for this blockage is blood clots that can travel from any part of the body to the lungs. The common place where the clot occurs is the legs and as one can assume, Serena being a sportsperson, she was definitely prone to these kinds of clots. It is a life threatening condition, but if diagnosed early can be eliminated. Serena was witnessing chest pains and shortness of breath for some time and it was the timely advice of her elder sister Venus that actually made her see a doctor and get prognosis.
It is diagnosed by taking x-rays of the chest, a lung scan and a helical CT scan. As mentioned prompt therapy is a must. Its medications include anti-coagulants, clot dissolvers and surgical procedures. It could have been prevented by preventing the clots in one’s blood vessels.
Serena fortunately is recovering now and she only has her sister to thank for it. It was the early diagnosis that saved from a more serious condition. She is currently on blood thinners, which the doctors say will stop her from playing tennis for the next six months. But that how her career’s been so far, she would always come back from an injury to lift another title. But for now let us all just pray for her speedy recovery.
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