Lung Disease & Respiratory Health Center

Home treatment is not recommended for initial treatment for pulmonary embolism. But it is important for preventing more clots from developing and causing a deep vein thrombosis, which can lead to recurring pulmonary embolism.

Measures that reduce your risk for developing a deep vein thrombosis include the following:

• Exercise. Keep blood moving in your legs by pointing your toes up toward your head so that your calves are stretched, then relaxing. Repeat. This exercise is especially important when you are sitting for long periods of time, for example, on long driving trips or airplane flights.
• Get up out of bed as soon as possible after an illness or surgery. It is very important to get moving as soon as you are able. If you cannot get out of bed, do the leg exercises described above every hour to keep the blood moving through your legs.
• Quit smoking. This is especially important if you are using any medicines that contain estrogen, such as birth control pills.
• Wear compression stockings to help prevent leg deep vein thrombosis if you are at increased risk for this condition.

For more information on how to prevent clots from developing, see the topic Deep Vein Thrombosis.