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Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Elevation Practice Test

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Pulmonary embolism is usually caused by which condition?
Correct Answer:
A deep vein thrombosis in the legs traveling to the lungs - life threatening
Explanation:
Pulmonary embolism usually arises when a deep vein thrombosis that forms in the legs breaks off and travels through the venous system to the lungs, where it can lodge in the pulmonary arteries and obstruct blood flow. This sudden blockage disrupts normal oxygen exchange, often causing acute shortness of breath, chest pain, and a fast heart rate, and it can be life-threatening if a large portion of the circulation is affected. The other conditions listed—pneumonia, asthma, and viral bronchitis—cause respiratory symptoms through infection or airway constriction, not by an embolic clot traveling to the lungs.

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