See also: List of states and territories of the United States. This table includes abbreviations for three independent nations related to the United States through Compacts of Free Association, and other comparable postal abbreviations, including those now obsolete. Codes and abbreviations for U.S. states, territories and other regions.
Pulmonary embolism is the sudden blockage of a major blood vessel (artery) in the lung, usually by a blood clot . In most cases, the clots are small and are not deadly, but they can damage the lung. But if the clot is large and stops blood flow to the lung, it can be deadly.
When a blood clot builds up in a vein, a condition called DVT, part of it can break off and float in your bloodstream. It travels from deep veins, usually in your leg, through veins in your belly and into your heart. From there, blood goes to your lungs. But if the clot goes with it, it can get stuck and block the blood vessels. This condition, called pulmonary embolism, is very serious. It can permanently damage a part of your lung. If a clot is large or if there are many clots, pulmonary embolism can even be deadly.