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Why is my left arm falling asleep?

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

It is popular knowledge that one of the main symptoms of a heart attack is pain or numbness in the left arm , a reason that usually generates great alarm when we feel discomfort in this area of ​​the body. However, this is not the only reason why we can experience significant discomfort in this arm, which will only be a true warning sign when accompanied by other symptoms that we will detail later. Before any recurring discomfort it is always important to visit the doctor, but in this FastlyHealarticle we clarify the possible causes for which your left arm falls asleep and in which case you should immediately go to a health care center.

Cervical or back injuries

One of the common causes of the left arm falling asleep is related to various injuries to the cervical discs or nerves, which can also affect the nerves in our arms causing numbness, tingling or discomfort. Some pathologies that can produce these symptoms are:

Herniated disc

It occurs when the outer lining of a disc tears which causes the center of the disc, made up of a soft structure, to come out through the fissure and generate the hernia. A herniated disc can cause neck pain that radiates to the arm and hand, causing numbness and tingling at the same time . There can be many forms of pain that can be constant, sharp, located in a specific area, or difficult to locate.

Pinched nerve

It occurs when a disc in the back that has a hernia is slightly displaced, pinching a nerve in this displacement, which causes the pain to spread to other areas of the body such as the arm or leg, the latter pathology is known like sciatica .

Dislocated or broken vertebrae

This type of injury usually occurs after a strong trauma, they can be generated by a traffic accident, a major fall, a sports injury, etc. If the discomfort in your left arm has started as a result of a major blow, it is necessary to visit a specialist.

If you suspect a hernia, pinched nerve, or injury to the vertebrae, seeing an orthopedic surgeon is very important to diagnose this condition.

Poor blood circulation

When determining the causes of your left arm falling asleep, it is important to identify the times when you experience these discomforts. If they occur in the middle of the night, in the morning when you get up or when you spend a lot of time in the same position, it is very likely that the problem is due to poor blood circulation in the area .

Sleeping or staying in an inappropriate position for a long time, wearing very tight clothing on the arms or accessories that are very tight on the wrists can lead to circulatory problems of this type. It is important to alternate postures when resting, wear appropriately sized garments, and avoid tight accessories. Additionally, performing physical exercise on a frequent basis will notably help you improve blood circulation.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

The syndrome of the carpal tunnel is a very common condition in people who perform such routine daily work with movements involving hands or wrists. The carpal tunnel is a tube that is located in the wrist through which the median nerve enters, when due to a very repetitive and frequent movement some inflammation occurs in this area, the nerve can end up compressing the already very narrow carpal tunnel , which gives rise to this syndrome.

In addition to numbness and tingling in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, or palm of the hand, these discomforts can also extend to the elbow, causing numbness in the arm whose wrist is affected. In our article symptoms, causes and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome we give you more information about this condition.

If in your work you use tools that involve a continuous movement of the wrists or do not keep your hands in a suitable position when you write, you could be suffering from this syndrome. To rule it out, it is best to go to a specialist.

Emergency signals that alert you to a major problem

The main reason for concern when we ask ourselves why my left arm falls asleep is related to our heart health, since numbness, pain or tingling in the left arm is usually known as one of the symptoms of a heart attack and also a possible sign of an accident cerebrovascular .

If, in addition to the discomfort in the arm, you have the following symptoms, it is important that you go to an emergency health center :

  • Pain or tightness in the chest
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Pain in the neck, shoulder, jaw, or back.
  • Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness.

Visit your doctor!

If your left arm falls asleep frequently and you cannot detect the possible cause, it is best to visit a specialist for a complete check-up. Because the problem can occur for various reasons, only a doctor will be able to tell you why and what is the most appropriate treatment.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why is my left arm falling asleep? , we recommend that you enter our Wellness category .

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