How to Use the PE Calculator in Everyday Life

Pulmonary embolisms most often occur when blood clots -- often from the patient's legs -- get caught in, and block the arteries of, the lungs. The condition can occur in an otherwise healthy patient who displays no signs of illness. Symptoms set on quickly and include shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. It can be life-threatening, especially for patients who do not suspect that they are at risk. People can use the pulmonary embolism (PE) calculator in everyday life to lower the risk of dying from an untreated pulmonary embolism.

Things You'll Need

  • Watch or clock with a second hand
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your resting heart rate. Feel for your pulse. Look at a watch or clock with a second hand. Count the number of heart beats you feel during 10 seconds. Multiply the number of heart beats by six. Record the result as your resting heart rate.

    • 2

      Open your preferred Web browser.

    • 3

      Navigate to a PE Calculator.

    • 4

      Indicate that you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT) symptoms if you have swelling in your legs and pain from palpitation. Leave the "Alternative Diagnosis" field as "Alternative Diagnosis More Likely" unless your physician indicates otherwise. Report whether your heart beat was above or below 100 beats per minute.

    • 5

      Answer the questions about recent bedrest or surgery, previous diagnosis of DVT or PE, hemoptysis (if there is blood in the phlegm you cough up) and cancer treatment according to your medical history.

    • 6

      Click "Submit." Record your Wells' score. Contact a medical professional immediately if your score is above 11. Discuss your result with your physician if your score is above 6.

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