Visible brachial pulse

[Richard]

This sounds a bit strange but I can actually see my brachial pulse (on
the inside of my arms near the elbow). The pulse in my right arm is
usually more visible than my left arm.

I'm a very thin person and my arms are muscular in this area.

It is annoying because people can tell how nervous I am just by
looking at the pulse there - I am lousy poker player.

My PCP said its ok and he checked my blood pressure which was 120/65
with this pulse clearly visible at the time.

Is this an indication of anything other than I am very thin? There is
nearly no fat on my arms. Seems to occur mainly when I am nervous or
tense.

Thanks,
Richard

[Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD]

Richard wrote:
>
> This sounds a bit strange but I can actually see my brachial pulse (on
> the inside of my arms near the elbow). The pulse in my right arm is
> usually more visible than my left arm.

Typically the pressure in the right arm is a bit higher than the left
arm because the inominate artery, which yields the right subclavian
comes off the aorta **before** the left subclavian relative to the
heart. This can make the arterial pulsations in the right arm appear
more prominent than in the left arm.

> I'm a very thin person and my arms are muscular in this area.
>
> It is annoying because people can tell how nervous I am just by
> looking at the pulse there - I am lousy poker player.
>
> My PCP said its ok and he checked my blood pressure which was 120/65
> with this pulse clearly visible at the time.
>
> Is this an indication of anything other than I am very thin? There is
> nearly no fat on my arms. Seems to occur mainly when I am nervous or
> tense.

It is possible that your blood pressure is significantly lower than
120/65 when you are relaxed. This would be fine if you are not having
symptoms of lightheadedness when relaxed.

> Thanks,
> Richard

Laus Deo :-)

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http://groups.google.com/group/sci.med.cardiology/msg/3558812d72ab4e17?

[Richard]

On Nov 24, 5:38 pm, "Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <lov...@thetruth.com>
wrote:

> Richard wrote:
>
> > This sounds a bit strange but I can actually see my brachial pulse (on
> > the inside of my arms near the elbow). The pulse in my right arm is
> > usually more visible than my left arm.
>
> Typically the pressure in the right arm is a bit higher than the left
> arm because the inominate artery, which yields the right subclavian
> comes off the aorta **before** the left subclavian relative to the
> heart.  This can make the arterial pulsations in the right arm appear
> more prominent than in the left arm.

Thanks for that explanation, that is interesting.

> > I'm a very thin person and my arms are muscular in this area.
>
> > It is annoying because people can tell how nervous I am just by
> > looking at the pulse there - I am lousy poker player.
>
> > My PCP said its ok and he checked my blood pressure which was 120/65
> > with this pulse clearly visible at the time.
>
> > Is this an indication of anything other than I am very thin? There is
> > nearly no fat on my arms. Seems to occur mainly when I am nervous or
> > tense.
>
> It is possible that your blood pressure is significantly lower than
> 120/65 when you are relaxed.  This would be fine if you are not having
> symptoms of lightheadedness when relaxed.

Yes, most definitely! I'm normally lower but I'm not too dizzy or
lightheaded.

I guess my main question was, do you think it is abnormal to *see* the
brachial pulse considering I'm thin build?
I mean, I can really see it from a couple feet away :-) I'm just glad
it doesn't seem to be associated with high bp.

[Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD]

Richard wrote:

It would be abnormal to see brachial artery pulsations in someone who
is not lean.

> I mean, I can really see it from a couple feet away :-) I'm just glad
> it doesn't seem to be associated with high bp.

The reassurance has already come to you via your PCP, who has examined
you :-)