Original: Signs and symptoms Symptoms of PE are sudden-onset dyspnea ( shortness of breath ) , tachypnea ( rapid breathing ) , chest pain of a '' pleuritic '' nature ( worsened by breathing ) , cough and hemoptysis ( coughing up blood ) .
Simplified: A pulmonary embolism causes sudden shortness of breath , rapid breathing , chest pain , coughing up blood and sexual dysfunction .