Home Brain and nerves Why You’re Waking Up with Numb Hands and Preventions

Why You’re Waking Up with Numb Hands and Preventions

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Has it happened to you that when you wake up, your hands are asleep? Do you feel a tingling that runs through your fingers and spreads to your arm? Does it calm you down, or does it last a long time? Do not be scared; this ailment is quite common and affects a large percentage of the population, and this tingling sensation will likely disappear when you move.

It may be that the cause is simpler than you think; it is generally related to the pressure exerted on the nerve endings of the hands while you sleep. In other cases, it is related to circulatory problems or vitamin B deficiency.

If this discomfort remains for much longer, we recommend that you go to the doctor. Likewise, we invite you to continue reading this FastlyHealarticle, where we will talk about the causes of sleeping hands when waking up and what you can do about it to improve it.

Why do my hands fall asleep when I wake up?

The body parts that have the most nerve endings are the hands and arms. This is why it has refined and delicate movements that allow to feel and define different textures of objects and even temperature changes.

Any condition in this area generates a sensation of numbness or tingling that, medically, is called paresthesia. The main reasons why hand numbness occurs are:

Decreased blood flow

This is the most frequent phenomenon whereby hands are asleep when waking up; this happens due to our body’s posture while we are sleeping. A wrong position, such as sleeping with the arm under the body, causes a decrease in blood flow, causing tingling, cramping, or numbness in the hands.

Nervous compression

In this case, it is some compression of the nerves located in the cervical spine, which can cause tingling in this area when waking up; remember that it is through the spine, specifically between the cervical vertebrae, where all the nerves that pass they cross the shoulder, the arm until they reach the hand.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

This is another reason related to the presence of numb hands upon waking. It is nothing more than a nerve compression on the carpal tunnel nerve that runs along the inside of the wrist. This is frequent after the excess pressure on this nerve generates, in addition to the pain that extends from the wrist to the fingers, a sensation of numbness in the hands. The incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in the United States is 1-3 cases per 1000 patients per year, occurring more frequently in white people with an average age of 53 years and a ratio of 3 – 10 women per year. Every man [1].

Sleeping hands upon waking: other causes

On the other hand, other causes are related to the sensation of numbness in the hands just when waking up :

  • Fluid retention is one of them; this is related to a sedentary lifestyle and an incorrect diet; in addition to manifesting in the feet, fluid retention can manifest itself in the hands, generating the characteristic tingling when waking up.
  • Vitamin B deficiency and poor diet lead to a lack of certain nutrients; this causes the body to experience fatigue, drowsiness, and overload in the legs and hands when waking up or when the body is relaxed.
  • Overload of daily tasks: finally, the excessive use of the hands can explain their numbness or numbness; this applies to people in charge of a computer, specialized machinery, or the handling of some instruments. In this case, the pain and the sensation of cramps can generate, in some cases, intermittent nocturnal awakening.

What can I do if my hands are asleep?

Here are a series of tips and recommendations for sleeping hands when waking up that will help you relieve and prevent that sensation:

  • Massage the hands: performing massages and stretching exercises helps prevent the fatigue in the hands and the consequent tingling, numbness, or numbness. This procedure is done quickly; apply a few drops of coconut or olive oil to your hands and massage in a circular motion for 5 minutes; repeat if necessary. This process activates circulation and stimulates the nerves in the area.
  • Coldwater: before sleeping, it is recommended to place your hands in a bucket with cold water, if possible with ice; this allows for relaxing nervous tension, relieves inflammation, and reduces the probability of tingling or numbness in the hands.
  • Use a wrist strap: this allows compression in the ligaments of both the hands and the wrist, avoiding injuries due to overload.
  • Drink water: it is important to follow healthy habits; it is recommended to drink plenty of water during the day; this reduces the probability of suffering from fluid retention and therefore prevents tingling or numbness in the hands.
  • Refrain from gas and salt: do not drink carbonated drinks, and reduce the amount of salt you eat in your meals. Improving the lifestyle minimizes the probability of generating swelling in the muscles that press on the nerves; this prevents numbness and numbness in the hands when waking up.
  • Improve your diet: Include foods rich in B vitamins such as eggs, tuna, cereals, and bananas in your daily diet, as well as any supplement indicated by the doctor that provides this essential vitamin; this avoids the sensation of tingling or paresthesia in the hands.

This uncomfortable sensation most of the time disappears when performing a simple stretching movement during the first minutes of the morning or performing massages that activate circulation. Otherwise, the importance of going to the doctor to study any other should not be overlooked—associated cause.

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 Sleeping hands when waking up: causes , we recommend that you enter our Brain and nerves category .

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