# How common is a clearly visible wrist pulse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-a-clearly-visible-wrist-pulse/334050 "2005-12-04T17:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-a-clearly-visible-wrist-pulse/334050/21 "2014-05-27T18:50:58Z")
I came over from a linked thread to say that I have a clearly visible wrist pulse, but then I noticed that I was the OP for this thread. Nine years later, my pulse is still clearly visible in both wrists. > [@WhyNot](#): > > In most people - perhaps not you - veins that poke out make bad IV or blood draw sites. They lack connective tissue pinning them down, so they roll, or they’re varicose and I can’t get a needle in there without it blowing out the stretched vessel wall. They also tend to be twisty, or have extra valves, so the catheter will advance, but not far enough, and we’ve got to start over. I have a very bad time with IVs and blood draws. I used to try to give blood regularly, but always had problems, and was eventually told that it was too difficult and not worth it for me to continue. Fortunately, I haven’t had to have too many IVs, but the ones I’ve had have ended up having to be removed and replaced multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-a-clearly-visible-wrist-pulse/334050/22 "2014-05-27T21:30:22Z")
BMI of around 25. I can see my pulse in both wrists. I’ve got really small wrists though. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-a-clearly-visible-wrist-pulse/334050/23 "2014-05-29T20:24:18Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > In most people - perhaps not you - veins that poke out make bad IV or blood draw sites. They lack connective tissue pinning them down, so they roll, or they’re varicose and I can’t get a needle in there without it blowing out the stretched vessel wall. They also tend to be twisty, or have extra valves, so the catheter will advance, but not far enough, and we’ve got to start over. > > When I learned to place an IV, the first thing my teacher (my husband, a retired paramedic instructor) did was put a blindfold on me. You can’t see a good vein, you have to feel it. Getting distracted by a good \*looking \*vein is a rookie mistake. 😉 Not varicose veins, thankfully - didn’t even know you could get them on your arms. I’m just really pale, with thin skin. But thanks for the info, I’d always wondered (especially when they’re taking it every 2 yours). 🙂 So by now I’m used to it and always wondered why they went for the “hidden” ones. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-a-clearly-visible-wrist-pulse/334050/24 "2014-05-29T20:39:49Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > Not varicose veins, thankfully - didn’t even know you could get them on your arms. I’m just really pale, with thin skin. But thanks for the info, I’d always wondered (especially when they’re taking it every 2 yours). 🙂 So by now I’m used to it and always wondered why they went for the “hidden” ones. I’m not sure if “varicose” is quite the right word, but…poofy and kinda stretched out, so the walls are weaker, and yes, it can happen in the arms, especially in people with high blood pressure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-a-clearly-visible-wrist-pulse/334050.md?page=1)