Tingling is an abnormal sensation that can occur in various body parts but is most common in the hands, feet, legs, and arms. Tingling is a symptom that can be linked to many conditions. Still, it is usually a condition that generates a lot of concern and alarm, primarily if it repeatedly occurs for no apparent reason, often reminding us that something is wrong with our body.
Tingling in the hands can be caused by multiple diseases ranging from excess calcium in the body to cautious conditions such as those related to the central nervous system. It is essential not to ignore any tingling, so it is necessary to attend the doctor to carry out a thorough check-up of our health and offer a diagnosis. For now, we invite you to continue reading this FastlyHealarticle carefully, where we answer the following question: Why do my hands tingle?
Table of Contents
Circulatory problems cause tingling.
Any problem that prevents the proper circulation of blood in our body can trigger tingling in the hands, feet, legs, or arms. However, in general, the symptom is sporadic and not recurrent.
Atherosclerosis is one of the most common circulatory problems that cause tingling in the hands. The hardening of the arteries due to an excessive accumulation of fats in them results in the formation of plaque, a sticky substance that can lead to block blood circulation. Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol are the leading cause of atherosclerosis, which, in most cases, is caused by an unbalanced diet rich in fat.
Carpal tunnel
Most people who suffer from carpal tunnel often wonder why their hands are tingling. And it is that this symptom is one of the most characteristics of this condition, together with the weakness and pain in the fingers and in the palm caused by the median nerve that affects the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the middle of the ring finger. And excludes the little finger from all symptoms.
It is essential to know that carpal tunnel injury usually occurs in both hands simultaneously, although the ailments can be more intense in a single limb. A characteristic symptom of this condition is that the discomfort can be worse at night, interrupting people’s sleep. Sometimes symptoms also extend to the forearm and shoulders, making diagnosis more difficult.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a degenerative disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body mistakenly uses insulin poorly, resulting in a significant increase in blood glucose. This condition can disrupt blood flow, causing tingling in the hands and other parts of the body.
Likewise, any drastic alteration in glucose levels, be it an excessive rise or fall, can arouse a general malaise that is accompanied by tingling in the hands, chills, and in some cases, fainting. In this case, tingling is a frequent symptom. It is a sporadic discomfort that can be decisive in the life of the person with diabetes, especially if the tingling results from the disease having injured some nerves.
Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral nerves perform an essential function in the body: they carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. When these nerves do not work correctly due to any injury or disease, peripheral neuropathy is called. A condition that depends on its cause can include damage to a nerve, several nerves, or all the body’s nerves.
Diabetes is one of the diseases that most causes peripheral neuropathy since high levels of sugar in the blood can cause damage to the nerves of the body. However, other conditions can also trigger neuropathy: vitamin B12 deficiency, kidney disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, liver infection, hypothyroidism, poor blood flow, alcoholism, carpal tunnel, crutches, or orthotics, freezing temperatures.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the nervous system, causing delays in inflammation of immune cells, causing damage to the myelin sheath, the protective layer surrounding neurons, and the injury causes the decrease or closely of nerve impulses. The cause of this disease is unknown, but it is proven that it is more common in women than in men and that its diagnosis is usually made between 20 and 40 years of age.
Among the first manifestations of multiple sclerosis, tingling in the hands and their numbness stands out, symptoms that may be accompanied by loss of sensation, decreased balance, muscle spasms, problems moving arms and legs, difficulty walking, and difficulties with coordination making small movements, among others.
Chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy
It consists of inflammation or irritation of the nerves that lead to loss of strength and sensitivity. The nerves cause this disease outside the brain and spinal cord being injured due to a failure in the immune system that affects the myelin covering the nerves.
This disease is sporadic, and in some cases, it is often accompanied by other conditions such as chronic hepatitis, diabetes, HIV, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, lymphoma, and paraneoplastic syndrome. Among the main symptoms are tingling in the hands, difficulty walking and using the arms, extreme weakness, abnormal movements, breathing problems, voice changes, fatigue, muscle atrophy, muscle contractions, and speech problems.
Other causes of tingling hands
- Sitting or standing in the same position for a long time.
- Sleeping with your head on top of your hand.
- Injury to a nerve due to muscle contracture.
- Nerve pressure due to the presence of a herniated disc.
- Abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, or sodium.
- Consumption above alcoholic beverages and tobacco.
- Use of certain medications.
- Treatment for cancer and HIV.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do my hands feel tingling, we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints, and Muscles category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.