A 31-year-old female, 24 weeks pregnant, presenting with chest pain and difficulty breathing may be experiencing what condition?

In a 31-year-old pregnant woman at 24 weeks gestation presenting with chest pain and difficulty breathing, pulmonary embolism is a particularly concerning condition to consider due to its potentially life-threatening implications. During pregnancy, the risk of venous thromboembolism increases due to physiological changes such as increased blood volume, a hypercoagulable state, and altered venous return, which can lead to the formation of blood clots.

Pulmonary embolism specifically refers to the obstruction of the pulmonary arteries, typically by a thrombus that has traveled from the lower extremities. This can cause acute symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, tachycardia, and sometimes hypoxia. The combination of chest pain and difficulty breathing in this scenario aligns well with the presentation of a pulmonary embolism, making it a critical diagnosis to rule out.

While pneumonia, heart attack, and asthma attack could present with similar symptoms, they are less likely to be the primary concern given the context of pregnancy and the heightened risk factors for pulmonary embolism. Pneumonia may present with fever and a productive cough, which are not mentioned here, while a heart attack in a younger woman is rarer and would typically present with more classic cardiac symptoms. Asthma