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What Causes Fluttering Sensation On Right Side Of The Neck?
Question: Hi,
I am a 40year old female. I smoke 1/2 ppd. Otherwise healthy. No medical history.
For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling a fluttering sensation on the right side of my neck near what seems to be my carotid or jugular artery/ veins.
This flutter happens sparoticly throughout the day and is not painfull. I don't have any other symptoms.
If I put my hand on my neck when It happens I can feel the flutter.
It some times happens in that little notch wear my collar bone and neck meet. I can feel a pulse there when I'm not feeling the flutter.
Could this be muscle spasams? Or is it something I should be concenned about.
Brief Answer:
Please get your pulse checked
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day.
The flutter in the said area could be due to a number of reasons. It could be just muscle spasms or Muscle fascculations. ( you can search for Fasciculations in Youtube videos). This is twitching of muscles and sometimes can occur with out any reasons and last for few days. If you have more widespread fasciculations, then we need to investigate further.
The second possibility is irregular pulsations which sometimes you can feel in neck ( if you are lean). If this sensation is recurrent, it is best to get your pulse checked and consult a doctor. He/she can examine you and possibly do an ECG(EKG) and check your heart beats.
If it is visible to a second person, it may be good to video it in your mobile phone so that you can show to your doctor. ( you said it occur sporadically and it may not occur when you go to a doctor).
You don't have to worry about this, but just need to get your pulse checked for any irregularities.
Kind Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi
Thanks for your response.
I am lean. I can see the pulse in my neck. I can also see the flutters when they happen. It only lasts 10- 15 sec.
I never feel palpations in my chest when this happens.
If it were irregular heart beat would I feel it in my chest?
Feeling this in my neck. This is not a symptom of any kind of stenosis right ?
Why am I only feeling it on one side?
Brief Answer:
Not likely due to any stenosis
Detailed Answer:
Hi ,
This is unlikey to be due to any kind of stenosis ( valve or blood vessel). If that was the case, you may have symptoms like lightheadedness and sometimes black outs.
Irregular pulses may not always necessarily lead to palpitations. (in most cases, yes it can).
Neck is one of the areas in body where our big blood vessels are so superficial and we can easily see and feel pulsations if you are thin ( like in your case).
Smoking can cause occasional extra heart beats ( called as ECTOPIC heart beats) and you may see these kind of intermittent pulsations. However, in most cases, as you rightly said, it would be also associated with palpitation or kind of a missed heart beat. The best way to differentiate is to get your pulse checked by a GP. A video of the episode( if you can) may be helpful ( I realize, this can be difficult as these episodes last only for 10-15 seconds)
As it lasts for only 10-15 seconds per episode, it makes me think in terms of any kind of transient arrhythmias ( irregular pulse) or a muscle fasciculation .
If blood vessels are more superficial in one side of neck, then you may feel in one side only. Muscle fasciculations are also unilateral ( one side ). However, these symptoms do not appear to be XXXXXXX But to be on the safer side, you may see your GP
Regards
Binu
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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