Is it normal to visibly see your external jugular vein pulse?

[Billytogan]

First thank you you and please read carefully.
I noticed that when I am standing and I look in the mirror where my external jugular vein is I can see a faint pulse coming from it only at the bottem of my neck. I have pale skin and If I look hard I can almost see the vein pulsing. Is this normal for your jugular vein to be pulsing while your standing? I know that it does pulse but I thought that was only when laying at 30degree angle or so( they use it for a test to find the jugular venous pressure). When I lay down at an angle and look in the mirror I can see my vein near the bottom of my neck fill up and then collapse like it supposed to do. But when I stand I was wondering if this is normal to see the vein very close to my collar bone pulsing. Is this normal or my jugular vein should not be pulsing because of gravity?

And it is not my carotid artery.

P.S.
I had an echo for chest pain about a month or 2 ago and everything was fine.

[Joel_G]

I sometimes have a visible bounding right internal jugular pulse after eating, to the point where it feels like a tugging sensation.  Usually this resolves after a minute or so.  I believe this is a stomach contraction impinging on the back filling of the right atrium, which causes the bounding pulse to compensate for decreased blood flow.    

[maithancailin]

My external jugular is prominent so much so that people are always commenting on it.  I am very fit but I also notice it.  Can I do anything to reverse it as I am so fustrated with people constantly commenting on how prominent my vein is??

[Dr J Singh]

Hi,
Normally, the jugular venous pulse should be visible only while reclining at 45 degrees but when it’s visible while standing, it’s supposed to be raised (meaning raised pressure in the right chambers of the heart). In any disease state of the right side of the heart, it’s usually elevated much above the collar bone. Since your echo has come out to be normal and the JVP is just around the collar bone, I don’t think you need to worry much.
I sincerely hope that helps. Please do keep me posted. Kind regards.