Pulmonary embolism is America’s least recognized major killer

It will kill about 50-100,000 Americans in the next 12 months and most will never “see” it coming. By the time one Googles “The clot in my lung,” 10% will die before the webpage is fully loaded and that is with a speedy WIFI connection. Medusa’s Clot discusses from lamb to loom a disease of which 80% of people are unaware. Hard to believe as there are approximately 4.9 million Internet hits on the subject. It is known as PE, short for pulmonary embolism. The book also discusses peripherally the deracinated healthcare system along with the roles of science and faith in disease and in health. The subject which is couched in humor, spirituality, and history brings to life an entity that surreptitiously continues as Mary Shelly had written in Frankenstein, “To glut the maw of death.”

Dr. Michael Helzner is a physician and author who practiced medicine for 25 years in Philadelphia. He enjoyed teaching medical students, interns, and residents until his career was cut short by numerous surgeries. He had two pulmonary embolisms which require lifetime medicines. Dr. H. as his patients affectionately referred to him, and his wife live in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. He maintains his medical license in hopes of one day returning to his passion.