Catherine O’Hara, the hilarious star of Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, passed away on January 30, 2026, at age 71 from a pulmonary embolism—a deadly blood clot in her lungs—linked to her private battle with rectal cancer. Her death certificate, released February 9, confirms symptoms hit just hours before she died at a Santa Monica hospital, with no other immediate causes listed.
What Exactly Is Pulmonary Embolism?
Pulmonary embolism (PE) happens when a blood clot, usually from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs, breaks loose and blocks a lung artery, starving lung tissue of blood and oxygen. This leads to sudden issues like impaired gas exchange, low oxygen levels (hypoxemia), and strain on the heart from released chemicals, causing vessel spasms. Cancer, like O’Hara’s rectal cance,r treated since March 2025, ramps up risk by promoting clots through inflammation and immobility.
Spotting Pulmonary Embolism Early
Common signs kick in fast: shortness of breath (dyspnea), sharp chest pain worse on deep breaths (pleuritic), coughing (sometimes with blood), rapid heartbeat, and lightheadedness or fainting. Less obvious ones include leg swelling from DVT, sweating, or anxiety; in massive cases, it causes shock or cardiac arrest. O’Hara’s certificate notes her symptoms started hours before death, highlighting how sneaky and swift PE can be.
Pulmonary Embolism Risks and Prevention Tips
Key triggers include cancer, surgery, long immobility, obesity, pregnancy, smoking, or clotting disorders—O’Hara’s cancer was the underlying factor here. Diagnosis uses blood tests (D-dimer), CT scans, ultrasounds for DVT, or ventilation-perfusion scans. Prevention means staying active, compression socks post-surgery, and blood thinners for high-risk folks; catch it early to slash death risk.
How Doctors Fight Pulmonary Embolism
Treatment starts with blood thinners like heparin to stop new clots, plus oxygen and pain relief. Severe cases get clot-busters (thrombolysis), catheter removal, or surgery; long-term anticoagulants prevent repeats based on risks. Without quick action, up to a third of untreated patients die from recurrences—emphasizing why O’Hara’s rapid decline was so tragic.
