Is it normal for your abdomen to pulsate

Giving up is not easy but there is a smoking cessation service and support groups that can help. Your vascular specialist nurse or GP practice nurse can advise you about these. Gentle exercise such as walking and cycling are recommended to help to improve your overall level of fitness. Exercise helps your body to produce healthy cholesterol and this helps to protect your arteries against bad cholesterol.

High blood pressure. High blood pressure is a known risk factor for rupture of aneurysms. If you have been prescribed medication for high blood pressure, you must make sure that you take it according to the instructions given.

If you have diabetes it is important that your blood sugar levels are well controlled. High blood cholesterol levels fatty substance in your blood. You should eat a healthy balanced diet and try to reduce any excess weight. It is important to reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood: you will be given advice on how to do this. Your vascular nurse can refer you to a dietician if needed.

You may be prescribed a statin drug to lower your cholesterol level and low-dose aspirin to help prevent blood clots from forming. The DVLA should be notified if your aneurysm reaches 6cm in diameter and you are allowed to continue to drive if you have had satisfactory medical treatment and there is no further enlargement of your AAA.

If your AAA reaches 6. More information and advice about vascular health. Whilst we make every effort to ensure that the information contained on this site is accurate, it is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and the Circulation Foundation recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional.

The Circulation Foundation cannot accept liability for any loss or damage resulting from any inaccuracy in this information or third party information such as information on websites to which we link. The information provided is intended to support patients, not provide personal medical advice. What is the aorta? What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm? AAA An aneurysm occurs when the wall of a blood vessel weakens and balloons out.

What causes an AAA? How are aneurysms discovered? Where is screening offered? Possible results of screening Normal no aneurysm detected : aortic diameter less than 3cm — most men have a normal result, require no further scans and are discharged from the screening programme Small aneurysm: aortic diameter What are the symptoms of an AAA?

If you do develop symptoms you may experience one or more of the following: A pulsing feeling in your abdomen, similar to a heartbeat Pain in your abdomen or lower back. Do I need an operation to treat my aneurysm? There are two types of operations that can be done to repair an aneurysm: Open surgery: this involves an incision in the abdomen and replacement of the affected section of blood vessel with a fabric tube Endovascular EVAR surgery : this is a form of keyhole surgery using a stent graft If your surgeon recommends an operation, they will give you more information.

Why do I need to have my aneurysm checked regularly? What is the chance of a small AAA rupturing? Do I need to take things easy? Do not drive yourself to hospital. What can I do to help myself? DOH Smoking kills. Credit: Bakerstmd. Sometimes when an aneurysm is discovered by accident, a doctor may decide on just serial surveillance to monitor its growth.

However, this is not a diagnostic criterion. If the weakened arterial wall indeed is causing this symptom, you may feel it more when lying on your back. However, Dr. A large fraction of situations like either of these [AAA or some kind of mass] would be detected with physical examination of the abdomen. Doctor Experts for this Site. Provided by CalculatorsWorld. Previous Next. Medically reviewed by David D. Clarke, MD. If you can feel a pulse in your stomach, this can mean a life-threatening condition involving a major blood vessel that runs down your abdomen or a cancerous tumor.

Talk to your doctor about any irregularities. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It runs from your heart, down the center of your chest, and into your abdomen.

When you eat, your heart pumps extra blood to your stomach and small intestine through your aorta. This helps with digesting food and absorbing its nutrients. That temporary surge can create a more pronounced pulse in your stomach.

You might also feel it if you lie down and raise your knees. During pregnancy, the amount of blood circulating around the body increases significantly. More blood is pumped with each heartbeat, making the pulse in the abdominal aorta more noticeable.