NeNe Leakes tweeted a message Monday saying she was "blessed to be alive."
The feisty star of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," was hospitalized over the weekend when doctors found blood clots in her lungs. The 45-year-old posted a photo of herself in a hospital gown with IVs in her arms.
Leakes took to her blog Tuesday and posted a statement:
"Late last week I wasn't feeling well and was feeling a little short of breath. I know my body and I know when I should be concerned so I went to the hospital to get checked out. After some routine tests I was diagnosed with blood clots in my lung. I'm told this happened to me because of the constant traveling around the country that I do for my job. I'm thankful to be alive as the doctor advised me that most people don't recognize the symptoms of blood clots and don't go to the doctor and that's when the big problems start happening."
Leakes said she believes her clots are from the large amount of travel that she's been doing. The star is involved in, "Glee" and "The New Normal", both filmed in Hollywood. She's had to travel back-and-forth from her home in Atlanta to California which she said can be taxing on the body. Leakes also dismissed previous reports that she suffered from a heart attack.
NeNe Leakes posted this adorable photo Tuesday with her granddaughter by her side in a hospital bed.
There's been an outpouring of support for the reality star, including from former nemesis Sheree Whitfield.
"I'll say a prayer for her and I'm hoping she makes a quick recovery," Sheree told E! News."She's a fighter, so I know she'll be okay."
Kim Zolciak also passed her well wishes on to NeNe, telling E! News, "My thoughts and prayers are with NeNe at this time. I know she will be back to her feisty self in no time."
Blood clots in the lungs is called pulmonary embolism. According to MayoClinic.com, pulmonary embolism occurs when a clump of material, most often a blood clot, gets wedged into an artery in your lungs.
Blood clots are more likely to form in your legs during periods of inactivity, such a sitting in a cramped position during lengthy plane or car trips slows the current of blood flow in your veins, which contributes to the formation of clots in your legs.
Leakes is reportedly recovering at home.