A 60-year-old male with high cholesterol presents with acute shortness of breath and chest pain. He also reports coughing up blood. What are the potential diagnoses and next steps?
The symptoms of acute shortness of breath, chest pain, and hemoptysis could suggest a pulmonary embolism (PE), particularly given his risk factor of high cholesterol, which can contribute to clot formation. The diagnosis can be confirmed with a CT pulmonary angiogram. Immediate anticoagulation is typically necessary once PE is suspected, unless contraindicated.