Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
FAQs
Jugularvein distention (JVD) is a bulging of large veins that run down the side of your neck. JVD can cause a vein to “stick out,” because blood is backing up in the heart or the vein that carries oxygen-depleted blood from the body back to it.
JVD is always a concerning sign of a cardiovascular problem, includingheart failure, even when it’s not painful. Immediate medical care is necessary.
This article will go over what causes jugular vein distention. You’ll also learn about the symptoms that can go along with JVD, as well as the signs that you need emergency medical treatment.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Causes of JVD
JVD is associated with a number of significant health conditions affecting the heart and lungs. Its presence, along with symptoms that may be specific to a certain diagnosis, can help a healthcare provider identify and treat the problem.
Right-Sided Heart Failure
Withright-sided heart failure, the right side of the heart isn’t pumping blood as well as it should. It usually happens afterleft-sided heart failure, which causes increased pressure on the right side to pump blood. Over time, the right side is weakened and cannot work as well.
Blood then accumulates in the veins and leads to a bulging jugular vein. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, edema (swelling), and fatigue along with JVD.
How the Cardiovascular System Works (and Fails)
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertensionis when the pressure of blood in the vessels between theheartand lungs is too high. Thepulmonary arteryis the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart’s right ventricle to the lungs. When pressure increases there, pulmonary hypertension occurs.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. In mild cases, a person may not experience any symptoms, but in more severe cases, pain and loss of consciousness can occur. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and edema.
Pulmonary hypertension can cause JVD due to the increased pressure in the vein, causing it to bulge.
Constrictive Pericarditis
Constrictive pericarditisis a chronic condition in which thepericardium, the membrane around the heart, becomes stiff and inelastic. Due to the loss of elasticity in the pericardium, also called the pericardial sac, cardiac function is negatively impacted, leading to symptoms that gradually worsen.
People with this condition often have a thickened or calcified pericardium, as well as dilation (expansion) of major veins due to the backing up of blood. One of these veins is the jugular vein.
This can result in JVD, which leads to increased venous pressure. Constrictive pericarditis is relatively rare but it’s usually chronic and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
The superiorvena cavais one of the main veins in the body. It transports blood from your arms, chest, neck, and head to your heart. The jugular vein is one of several veins of the neck that connect to the superior vena cava. When there is an obstruction in the superior vena cava, it becomes compressed or blocked.
Depending on the severity of the condition, symptoms may be nonexistent or mild. The blockage can progress, causing extreme symptoms, including chest pain, coughing up blood, andwheezing.
This obstruction can cause distention in other veins, including:
JVD and Medical DevicesWith technological advances in care, researchers are finding an increase in cases of superior vena cava syndrome that are linked to the use of pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, and other medical devices used to treat heart conditions.
JVD and Medical Devices
With technological advances in care, researchers are finding an increase in cases of superior vena cava syndrome that are linked to the use of pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, and other medical devices used to treat heart conditions.
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Its Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Cardiac Tamponade
Cardiac tamponadeis a medical emergency. In this condition, blood and fluid accumulate in the pericardial sac and compress the heart. When this happens, cardiac output is stunted and can also lead to shock, a sudden drop in blood flow throughout the body.
The buildup of fluid that causes cardiac tamponade can be a result of hemorrhage (bleeding) from a penetrating wound to the heart or ventricular wall rupture after aheart attack.
Symptoms usually include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and altered mental status.A person with cardiac tamponade can also present with JVD due to the backup of blood in the veins.
Tension Pneumothorax
Apneumothoraxis a collapsed lung, which can happen when air collects between your lungs and chest wall, called the pleural space, and cannot escape. A pneumothorax can be a complete or partial lung collapse.
There are several types of pneumothorax, including open and tension. An open pneumothoraxoccurs when air accumulates between the chest wall and the lungs as a result of an open chest wound or other physical defect.
Tension pneumothoraces occur when air accumulates between the chest wall and thelungand increases pressure in the chest, reducing the amount of blood returned to the heart. It can cause jugular vein distention.
A tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening condition that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Tricuspid Valve Stenosis
Thetricuspid valveis between the right atrium and the right ventricle of the heart. Tricuspid valvestenosisis one of four types of tricuspid valve diseases. In tricuspid valve stenosis, there is a narrowing of the valve opening, restricting blood flow between the upper and lower parts of the right side of the heart.
This condition leads to an enlarged right atrium, resulting in increased pressure and blood flow in the surrounding veins. Tricuspid valve stenosis often causes increased jugular venous pressure and bulging of the vein.
Tricuspid valve stenosis is uncommon and usually occurs along with another valvular issue. If the condition is mild or moderate, treatment may not be needed. However, you should still see your healthcare provider. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
What You Should Know About Tricuspid Regurgitation
Symptoms of JVD
The main symptom of JVD is the obvious bulge in neck veins that indicates a problem with blood flow back to the heart. Other common symptoms may include:
Some conditions will have specific symptoms. For example, with a tension pneumothorax you will have difficulty getting enough oxygen because of the collapsed lung.Cyanosis, which causes a blue or ashen tinge to the skin, might occur with the JVD.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderContact your healthcare provider if you have a bulge in your neck veins. Call 911 if you notice other symptoms as well like chest pain, shortness of breath, or confusion. One possible cause, cardiac tamponade is life-threatening and requires a procedure to drain the sac around the heart right away to relieve pressure causing the JVD.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Contact your healthcare provider if you have a bulge in your neck veins. Call 911 if you notice other symptoms as well like chest pain, shortness of breath, or confusion. One possible cause, cardiac tamponade is life-threatening and requires a procedure to drain the sac around the heart right away to relieve pressure causing the JVD.
In many cases, the risk factors for JVD are related to a specific underlying cause of the jugular vein back-up that causes the swelling. That’s the case with heart failure and related heart and lung conditions, but the risk of JVD can extend to other health issues, too.
For example, people living withlupusorsclerodermamay be more likely to experience acute pericarditis that leads to the more chronic form, constrictive pericarditis.Infection also may contribute to a higher risk of developing JVD.
Some risk factors are linked to lifestyle choices that can be modified to reduce the risk of heart failure and other causes of JVD. They include:
Fluid levels in your body can contribute to JVD, so be sure to discuss medication and other ways to manage or restrict fluids with your healthcare provider.
New Heart Failure Guidelines Emphasize Prevention
Diagnosis of JVD
JVD is diagnosed on the basis of the distention in the neck. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam, watching for pulsations in the neck veins and checking to see how they might change in different positions or if your breathing alters the pattern.
If JVD is present, then it is assigned a measure in terms of centimeters of venous pressure.This value is considered within the context of your overall health history and conditions that may lead to JVD, along with your other symptoms and test findings.
These tests may include:
Keep in mind that a diagnosis of JVD points to another underlying cause. Some tests, such as aheart catheterization, may be needed to diagnose specific conditions like pulmonary hypertension.
The Anatomy of the Pulmonary Artery
Treatment for JVD
Since JVD is a symptom of an underlying disease, treatment is focused on the cause of the blockage or backup into the jugular vein. These treatments will vary depending on the diagnosis.
Healthcare providers typically try the least invasive methods first. If your condition is not critical, they may recommend lifestyle changes and medications meant to reduce your body fluid levels or improve your heart function. These medications may include:
Your healthcare team can explain your diagnosis and treatment options with you, including the need for surgery and other interventions.
Summary
Jugular vein distention (JVD) occurs when neck veins bulge out because of pressure. This happens because blood is not returning to the heart properly, and it may occur along with symptoms including chest pain and shortness of breath.
JVD often signals the presence of a serious underlying issue, usually involving the heart and lungs. These conditions include right-sided heart failure, pericarditis, and other cardiac health concerns.
These causes can usually be managed if you see a healthcare provider right away for diagnosis and treatment. But it’s critical that you do so if you experience JVD, because the symptom is associated with conditions (like cardiac tamponade) that can prove fatal if not treated immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a neck vein is swollen, it is a sign that there is increased pressure in that vein. A bulging jugular vein will be visible on the right side of a person’s neck. If it has an abnormally high pulse, it can be a sign of jugular vein distention.
The sudden appearance of blue veins on the chest is usually due to genetics. However, they can also appear due to aging, rapid weight loss, exercising on a regular basis, cirrhosis, and menstrual cycle. In many cases they are not harmful, but it may be worth mentioning them to a healthcare provider.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Types of Heart Failure.Mandras SA, Mehta HS, Vaidya A.Pulmonary Hypertension: A Brief Guide for Clinicians. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 Sep;95(9):1978-1988. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.04.039.Azizi AH, Shafi I, Shah N, Rosenfield K, Schainfeld R, Sista A, Bashir R.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2020 Dec 28;13(24):2896-2910. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.08.038.Stashko E, Meer JM.Cardiac tamponade. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.American Heart Association.Problem: Tricuspid Calve Stenosis.Chiabrando JG, Bonaventura A, Vecchié A, Wohlford GF, Mauro AG, Jordan JH,et al.Management of Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jan 7;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021.Gupta S, Jesrani G, Gaba S, Gupta M, Kumar S.Constrictive Pericarditis as an Initial Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Cureus. 2020 Oct 30;12(10):e11256. doi:10.7759/cureus.11256.American Academy of Family Physician.Diagnosis and Evaluation of Heart Failure.Stanford University School of Medicine.Neck Vein Exam.Bel Marra Health.Jugular Vein Distention: Causes, Tests, and Treatment for Bulging Neck Veins.Bel Marra Health.Blue Veins on Chest: Cause and Treatment.Gopal S, Nagalli S.Jugular Venous Distention. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Types of Heart Failure.Mandras SA, Mehta HS, Vaidya A.Pulmonary Hypertension: A Brief Guide for Clinicians. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 Sep;95(9):1978-1988. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.04.039.Azizi AH, Shafi I, Shah N, Rosenfield K, Schainfeld R, Sista A, Bashir R.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2020 Dec 28;13(24):2896-2910. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.08.038.Stashko E, Meer JM.Cardiac tamponade. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.American Heart Association.Problem: Tricuspid Calve Stenosis.Chiabrando JG, Bonaventura A, Vecchié A, Wohlford GF, Mauro AG, Jordan JH,et al.Management of Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jan 7;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021.Gupta S, Jesrani G, Gaba S, Gupta M, Kumar S.Constrictive Pericarditis as an Initial Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Cureus. 2020 Oct 30;12(10):e11256. doi:10.7759/cureus.11256.American Academy of Family Physician.Diagnosis and Evaluation of Heart Failure.Stanford University School of Medicine.Neck Vein Exam.Bel Marra Health.Jugular Vein Distention: Causes, Tests, and Treatment for Bulging Neck Veins.Bel Marra Health.Blue Veins on Chest: Cause and Treatment.Gopal S, Nagalli S.Jugular Venous Distention. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.Types of Heart Failure.Mandras SA, Mehta HS, Vaidya A.Pulmonary Hypertension: A Brief Guide for Clinicians. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 Sep;95(9):1978-1988. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.04.039.Azizi AH, Shafi I, Shah N, Rosenfield K, Schainfeld R, Sista A, Bashir R.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2020 Dec 28;13(24):2896-2910. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.08.038.Stashko E, Meer JM.Cardiac tamponade. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.American Heart Association.Problem: Tricuspid Calve Stenosis.Chiabrando JG, Bonaventura A, Vecchié A, Wohlford GF, Mauro AG, Jordan JH,et al.Management of Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jan 7;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021.Gupta S, Jesrani G, Gaba S, Gupta M, Kumar S.Constrictive Pericarditis as an Initial Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Cureus. 2020 Oct 30;12(10):e11256. doi:10.7759/cureus.11256.American Academy of Family Physician.Diagnosis and Evaluation of Heart Failure.Stanford University School of Medicine.Neck Vein Exam.Bel Marra Health.Jugular Vein Distention: Causes, Tests, and Treatment for Bulging Neck Veins.Bel Marra Health.Blue Veins on Chest: Cause and Treatment.Gopal S, Nagalli S.Jugular Venous Distention. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
American Heart Association.Types of Heart Failure.
Mandras SA, Mehta HS, Vaidya A.Pulmonary Hypertension: A Brief Guide for Clinicians. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 Sep;95(9):1978-1988. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.04.039.
Azizi AH, Shafi I, Shah N, Rosenfield K, Schainfeld R, Sista A, Bashir R.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2020 Dec 28;13(24):2896-2910. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.08.038.
Stashko E, Meer JM.Cardiac tamponade. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
American Heart Association.Problem: Tricuspid Calve Stenosis.
Chiabrando JG, Bonaventura A, Vecchié A, Wohlford GF, Mauro AG, Jordan JH,et al.Management of Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jan 7;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021.
Gupta S, Jesrani G, Gaba S, Gupta M, Kumar S.Constrictive Pericarditis as an Initial Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Cureus. 2020 Oct 30;12(10):e11256. doi:10.7759/cureus.11256.
American Academy of Family Physician.Diagnosis and Evaluation of Heart Failure.
Stanford University School of Medicine.Neck Vein Exam.
Bel Marra Health.Jugular Vein Distention: Causes, Tests, and Treatment for Bulging Neck Veins.
Bel Marra Health.Blue Veins on Chest: Cause and Treatment.
Gopal S, Nagalli S.Jugular Venous Distention. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
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