Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Catherine O'Hara, Canadian and American actress, known widely for her role in Home Alone movie, has passed away at the age of 71 on January 30, 2026.
According to reports, the immediate cause of Catherine O'Hara's death was a pulmonary embolism, a serious medical condition caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in the lungs.
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The death certificate also listed rectal cancer as the underlying cause, for which she had been treated by an oncologist since March of the previous year.
O'Hara was rushed to a hospital in Santa Monica, California, after experiencing difficulty breathing at her home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Catherine O'Hara's Cause of Death: Pulmonary Embolism and Rectal Cancer
A death certificate issued on Monday, February 2, 2026, in Los Angeles County confirmed that Catherine O'Hara died of a pulmonary embolism, with cancer as the underlying cause.
O'Hara's oncologist stated that he had been treating her since March of the previous year and last saw her on January 27, 2026.
A pulmonary embolism is a serious condition in which a blood clot blocks one or more arteries in the lungs, impeding blood flow.
These clots typically originate in the deep veins of the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and then travel to the lungs.
The actress, born on March 4, 1954, was rushed to a hospital in Santa Monica, California, after experiencing difficulty breathing at her home.
Understanding Pulmonary Embolism
According to Medline Plus, Pulmonary embolism is a serious medical condition that occurs when a blood clot or other material blocks one or more arteries in the lungs, obstructing blood flow.
This blood clot, called an embolus, typically originates in the deep veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) and travels to the lungs.
When the pulmonary artery is blocked, blood flow between the lungs and the right side of the heart is obstructed, causing serious impairment of breathing and circulation.
In addition to blood clots, pulmonary embolism can also be caused by air bubbles, tumor fragments, fat from broken bone marrow, or amniotic fluid.
Several risk factors that can increase a person's likelihood of developing a pulmonary embolism include deep vein thrombosis (DVT), prolonged immobilization, age over 60, chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, and a history of surgery or trauma.
Obesity, smoking, and the use of hormone-based medications can also contribute to an increased risk.
Symptoms and Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism vary from mild to severe and often appear suddenly.
Common symptoms include shortness of breath that worsens with movement, sharp chest pain similar to a heart attack and worsening with deep breathing, and a cough that may be accompanied by bloody sputum, according to National Library of Medicine.
A rapid or irregular heartbeat, cold sweats, dizziness, or fainting may also be signs.
Diagnosing pulmonary embolism involves a medical history and physical examination, as well as a series of tests such as a blood test for D-dimer, CT angiography (CTPA) as the gold standard, a chest X-ray, an ultrasound (USG) for DVT, and a ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan.
The primary treatment aims to prevent the blood clot from enlarging and forming new clots.
This may include the administration of blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) such as heparin and warfarin, or thrombolytics to dissolve the clot in life-threatening cases.
In some situations, insertion of a blood vessel filter or surgery (embolectomy) may be necessary.
If not treated promptly, a pulmonary embolism can lead to fatal complications such as permanent lung damage, decreased blood oxygen levels, chronic pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and even cardiac arrest.