Does it happen to you that your hands suddenly go numb and your fingers start tingling while sleeping at night? Sometimes people shake their hands or change their sleeping position and go back to sleep. This is normal, but if this problem occurs repeatedly, it should not be ignored. It can be caused by pressure on nerves or even serious health problems.
According to Dr. SK Agarwal of Yashoda Hospital, Ghaziabad, the most common cause of hand numbness is improper sleeping posture. Sleeping with your head under your hands or tucking your hands under your body puts pressure on the nerves. Staying in the same position for long periods of time can cause numbness or tingling in your hands. In such cases, changing your sleeping position and resting your hands can alleviate the problem.
Pressure on the nerves in the wrist causes a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. Numbness, tingling, or pain is felt especially in the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Sometimes, the discomfort worsens at night and awakens you from sleep. If this happens repeatedly, it’s important to consult a doctor.
Numbness in the hands can also be caused by problems with the bones or discs in the neck. When pressure is applied to a nerve originating in the neck, pain, tingling, or weakness radiates to the hand. If hand numbness is accompanied by neck pain, it should be examined. Also, if the elbow is compressed by prolonged bending or by the weight of the body, this can cause tingling or numbness, especially in the little finger and the adjacent finger. Avoid keeping the elbow bent excessively while sleeping.
Vitamin B12 deficiency and diabetes can damage nerves. This can cause numbness, burning, and tingling in the hands or feet. If your hand becomes numb repeatedly, doesn’t heal for a long time, or you experience weakness in your hand, consult a doctor. If sudden numbness in your hand is accompanied by facial weakness, difficulty speaking, or weakness on one side of your body, seek emergency help immediately.