What is pulmonary embolism? Reports of legendary rapper Beatking's cause of death surfaces

Justin Riley, known as BeatKing, a Houston-based rapper and producer, reportedly passed away on August 15 at the age of 39. In an Instagram post published on the same day, his manager, Tasha Felder, announced his death. The message read:

“Today, August 15, 2024, we have lost @Clubgodzilla. BeatKing has been the best part of the club for over a decade. He has produced and worked with so many artists, that his sound will forever live. He loved his daughters @clubgodparenting, his music and his fans. We will love him forever.”

The rapper's cause of death was initially unknown, but Felder later confirmed in an email to USA TODAY on Friday, August 16, that the rapper died due to a pulmonary embolism.

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to an artery in the lung. The clot usually starts in a deep vein in the leg and proceeds to the lung. In rare instances, the clot can develop in a vein in a different body area.

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Causes, symptoms, and treatment of pulmonary embolism that resulted in BeatKing's demise

BeatKing died of pulmonary embolism (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel within the body, usually in the leg, and then travels to a long artery, abruptly stopping blood flow. This condition, which led to the death of rapper Beatking, can be life-threatening.

An embolus is a blood clot that originates in a blood vessel in one part of the body, breaks off, and travels through the bloodstream to another part of the body. It can become lodged in a blood artery and could cut off blood flow to a particular organ. An embolism is the obstruction of a blood artery caused by an embolus.

Blood clots in veins can develop due to a blood vessel lesion, aberrant clot formation, or reduced blood flow.

A pulmonary embolism can result in death or serious damage to the heart or lungs if treatment is delayed. According to My Cleveland Clinic, about 33% of patients with pulmonary embolism die before receiving a diagnosis and treatment.

In addition to damaging the lungs, a pulmonary embolism can strain the heart and result in heart failure. It is among the most prevalent heart and blood vascular conditions worldwide.

Pulmonary embolism is a serious concern for individuals with blood clotting abnormalities in their family history or genetic conditions that raise the chance of blood clot formation. Factors such as injuries, orthopedic surgeries, old age, cancer, and cancer treatment can also increase the risk.

Furthermore, individuals who take certain medications, such as birth control pills and estrogen replacement therapy, those with enlarged veins in their legs, and individuals who are obese are more susceptible to developing this condition.

Additionally, people who smoke frequently, and have heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high blood pressure, stroke, and inflammatory bowel disease may also be at risk.

Shortness of breath and chest pains are typically the initial symptoms of a pulmonary embolism, and they worsen if the patient exhausts themselves or takes deep breaths.

Additional symptoms of PE can include fast breathing, wheezing, unexplained sharp pain in the chest, arm, back, shoulder, neck, or jaw, pale, clammy, or bluish skin, fever, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, and in certain situations, being anxious, dizzy, faint, or passing out.

As the symptoms of pulmonary embolism (PE) are similar to those of numerous other illnesses, it is frequently challenging to diagnose. Tests used to search for a PE may include a full medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray, ventilation-perfusion scan, pulmonary angiography, computed tomography, MRI, duplex ultrasonography, electrocardiogram, or EKG, and other lab tests, such as blood.

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BeatKing is survived by his daughters, who were often featured in his songs and social media posts, as well as his girlfriend, Talameshia, a singer, who is currently grieving the rapper's demise. Nevertheless, no further information about BeatKing's untimely demise has been released.