When an air bubble enters a vein, it's called a venous air embolism. When an air bubble enters an artery, it's called an arterial air embolism. These air bubbles can travel to your brain, heart, or lungs and cause a heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure. Air embolisms are rather rare.
You can also get an air embolism while scuba diving. This is possible if you hold your breath for too long when you’re under water or if you surface from the water too quickly.
These actions can cause the air sacs in your lungs, called alveoli, to rupture. When the alveoli rupture, air may move to your arteries, resulting in an air embolism.
A minor air embolism may cause very mild symptoms, or none at all. Symptoms of a severe air embolism might include: