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This question concerns the experience of a heart palpitation felt or seen in the abdomen.

The aorta is the body's largest artery and extends from the top of the heart, then curves around and down through the entire length of the abdomen before bifurcating around the navel.

This large blood vessel carries a huge amount of the body's supply of blood down through the abdomen. It is quite normal to be able to feel your own pulse in this area. Actually seeing the pulse, perhaps when lying on one's back, will be relatively common in thin people.

It is common for people to experience anxiety when they become overly aware of their own heart beat. In the vast majority of cases, there is nothing to be concerned about. If you have significant concerns or feel overly anxious, a doctor will be able to perform an examination and possibly an ultrasound to rule out any (highly unlikely) issues. This may be re-assuring and reduce your anxiety.

One potential pathology that can be experienced as abdominal palpations is abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This is very rare in people under 60.

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13y ago

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