Q: can contraction of scm cause temporary bulging in external jugular vein? bulge is painless, soft, <1 cm. no bulge when muscle is relaxed.

Not normally: No, not normally. Contracture of the SCM would not really affect the jugular vein unless you contract it to the extent that increases the pressure in the venous system which causes venous distension in general. You may have a sift tissue growth superficial to the SCM that then becomes more prominent as the muscle contracts. Don't hesitate to be seen for it.

Q: my 3 yr old's jugular vein bulges easily (not just crying or screaming) and also runs horizontally vs vertically. i can see his pulse. concerning?

No: A child's head is relatively large for his body compared to an adult, so the anatomy is slightly different. If you can see pulsations, it is highly unlikely that his venous pressure is elevated. Unless he has been previously diagnosed with a heart murmur, etc., there is no cause for alarm.

Q: external jugular vein bulges (bubble) a little when i strain my neck and returns to normal when i relax the muscles. no pain/sensation. is this normal?

Yes,: that can happen normally.

Q: hello, i notice when i bend over i can feel my jugular vein on the left side bulge out. i dont notice it as much on my left side. it didnt bulge when standing, sitting, or laying in bed. i was just curious why my left vein is bigger than the right?

: That vein is external jugular vein on each side of the neck and it is not unusual that one vein is bigger or closer to surface than the other.

Q: jugular vein is bulging out when i lie down, especially on the right. chest x ray and ecg shows no abnormalities and gp says it is not a cause for concern. should i worry?

: Is this a new finding? Jugular venous distension is classically associated with congestive heart failure. If you are not experiencing any symptoms of this such as shortness of breath and your chest x ray , EKG and physical exam are normal, then you are probably fine. Keep following up with your doctor.

Q: my 2 y.o has large blue jugular vein on l neck. at times it bulges & other times not. can see it pulse @ times. had echo as a baby, no defects. worry?

No: In small children especially the external jugular vein (there are two, internal and external) can bulge a bit at times, indicating a good amount of blood return. Especially when he's turned the right way and the muscle and lymph nodes are all visible. This is something we see often, and is innocent in nature.

Q: my jugular vein expands and bulges on the right side above my collar bone only when i strain. i've gotten a ct scan. what are my concerns?

Normal: Neck veins distend when we lie with our head lower than our heart or when we strain. With straining, the pressure within the chest increases and the blood flow through the neck veins decrease resulting in them enlarging. This is normal. Why you notice only one side is probably just anatomical variation.

Q: what causes an enlarged jugular vein?

I have : To know is enlargement unilateral or bilateral, is also some puffiness of the face exists too.I t is is highly recommended to see a physician if the face is puffy too.

Q: what would cause occlusion in jugular vein not a clot?

Compression: Some type of process compressing the vein would cause a occlusion. This could be a a mass or some other structure in the neck occluding the vein.

Question 1

can contraction of scm cause temporary bulging in external jugular vein? bulge is painless, soft, <1 cm. no bulge when muscle is relaxed.

Accepted Answer

Not normally: No, not normally.  Contracture of the SCM would not really affect the jugular vein unless you contract it to the extent that increases the pressure in the venous system which causes venous distension in general.  You may have a sift tissue growth superficial to the SCM that then becomes more prominent as the muscle contracts.  Don't hesitate to be seen for it.

Question 2

my 3 yr old's jugular vein bulges easily (not just crying or screaming) and also runs horizontally vs vertically.  i can see his pulse. concerning?

Accepted Answer

No: A child's head is relatively large for his body compared to an adult, so the anatomy is slightly different.  If you can see pulsations, it is highly unlikely that his venous  pressure is elevated.  Unless he has been previously diagnosed with a heart murmur, etc., there is no cause for alarm.

Question 3

external jugular vein bulges (bubble) a little when i strain my neck and returns to normal when i relax the muscles. no pain/sensation. is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Yes,: that can happen normally.

Question 4

hello, i notice when i bend over i can feel my jugular vein on the left side bulge out. i dont notice it as much on my left side. it didnt bulge when standing, sitting, or laying in bed. i was just curious why my left vein is bigger than the right?

Accepted Answer

: That vein is external jugular vein on each side of the neck and it is not unusual that one vein is bigger or closer to surface than the other.

Question 5

jugular vein is bulging out when i lie down, especially on the right. chest x ray and ecg shows no abnormalities and gp says it is not a cause for concern. should i worry?

Accepted Answer

: Is this a new finding?  Jugular venous distension is classically associated with congestive heart failure. If you are not experiencing any symptoms of this such as shortness of breath and your chest x ray , EKG and physical exam are normal, then you are probably fine. Keep following up with your doctor.

Question 6

jugular vein is bulging out when i lie down, especially on the right. chest x ray and ecg shows no abnormalities and gp says it is not a cause for concern. should i worry about pulmonary hypertension?

Accepted Answer

: No, you should not.

Question 7

my 2 y.o has large blue jugular vein on l neck. at times it bulges & other times not. can see it pulse @ times. had echo as a baby, no defects. worry?

Accepted Answer

No: In small children especially the external jugular vein (there are two, internal and external) can bulge a bit at times, indicating a good amount of blood return. Especially when he's turned the right way and the muscle and lymph nodes are all visible. This is something we see often, and is innocent in nature.

Question 8

my jugular vein expands and bulges on the right side above my collar bone only when i strain. i've gotten a ct scan. what are my concerns?

Accepted Answer

Normal: Neck veins distend when we lie with our head lower than our heart or when we strain.  With straining, the pressure within the chest increases and the blood flow through the neck veins decrease resulting in them enlarging.  This is normal.  Why you notice only one side is probably just anatomical variation.

Question 9

what causes an enlarged jugular vein?

Accepted Answer

I have : To know is enlargement unilateral or bilateral, is also some puffiness of the face exists too.I t is is highly recommended to see a physician  if the face is puffy too.

Question 10

what would cause occlusion in jugular vein 
not a clot?

Accepted Answer

Compression: Some type of process compressing the vein would cause a occlusion. This could be a a mass or some other structure in the neck occluding the vein.

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Doctor answers about:

Bulging jugular vein

A member asked:

Can contraction of scm cause temporary bulging in external jugular vein? bulge is painless, soft, <1 cm. no bulge when muscle is relaxed.

A member asked:

My 3 yr old's jugular vein bulges easily (not just crying or screaming) and also runs horizontally vs vertically. i can see his pulse. concerning?

A member asked:

External jugular vein bulges (bubble) a little when i strain my neck and returns to normal when i relax the muscles. no pain/sensation. is this normal?

A member asked:

Hello, i notice when i bend over i can feel my jugular vein on the left side bulge out. i dont notice it as much on my left side. it didnt bulge when standing, sitting, or laying in bed. i was just curious why my left vein is bigger than the right?

A member asked:

Jugular vein is bulging out when i lie down, especially on the right. chest x ray and ecg shows no abnormalities and gp says it is not a cause for concern. should i worry?

A member asked:

Jugular vein is bulging out when i lie down, especially on the right. chest x ray and ecg shows no abnormalities and gp says it is not a cause for concern. should i worry about pulmonary hypertension?

A member asked:

My 2 y.o has large blue jugular vein on l neck. at times it bulges & other times not. can see it pulse @ times. had echo as a baby, no defects. worry?

A member asked:

My jugular vein expands and bulges on the right side above my collar bone only when i strain. i've gotten a ct scan. what are my concerns?

A member asked:

What causes an enlarged jugular vein?

A member asked:

What would cause occlusion in jugular vein not a clot?

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