Hands falling asleep can be a mild and temporary phenomenon that subsides on its own, or can be treated by simple home remedies. In some cases, however, it is a sign of a more serious medical condition.
What are hands that fall asleep?
Usually, hands that fall asleep are caused by a momentary disturbance in the blood supply, such as when lying or sitting in certain positions. Hands falling asleep is a common term to describe uncomfortable numbness in the hands. The sensation may present as tingling, stinging, or complete loss of physical sensation. Usually, the symptom is caused by a momentary disturbance in the blood supply, for example, when lying or sitting in certain positions. Hands falling asleep may also be a harmless side effect of cold or mild shock; however, it may also be a sign of nerve damage or other serious disorders.
Causes
Hands that fall asleep can have both physical and psychological causes. An unbalanced diet, for example, lacking essential vitamins and minerals, can lead to numerous side effects, including numbness in the hands. Concentrated and permanent pressure on certain nerves (long periods of sitting or lying down) can cause short-term symptoms. But even here, prolonged stress can cause permanent damage. Likewise, other diseases that can damage the nerves may cause hands to fall asleep. These include diabetes or multiple sclerosis. But also strokes, angina pectoris or arterial diseases cause numbness in the limbs. Further also poisoning by numerous poisons of insects, snakes, or also alcoholism. Emotional and psychological stress also occasionally leads to hands falling asleep. Anxiety and resulting shallow breathing can affect blood circulation and cause the tingling in the limbs or face.
Diseases with this symptom
- Vitamin deficiency
- Multiple sclerosis
- Arteriosclerosis
- Polyneuropathy
- Mineral deficiency
- Stroke
- Raynaud’s syndrome
- Mouse arm (RSI syndrome)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Angina pectoris
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Rheumatism
Diagnosis and course
In most cases, hands falling asleep are completely harmless and the phenomenon passes after a while. However, if the following side effects and conditions occur, a doctor should definitely be consulted:
Inability to move at all, including extreme weakness and sensory disturbances; trauma to the head, neck or back causing severe numbness; loss of bladder and bowel control; loss of consciousness or confusion; speech problems, blurred vision or difficulty walking; chest pain. Less urgent but still necessary phenomena for which a doctor should be consulted: numbness and tingling in the hands, for no apparent reason and for longer than a day; frequent urination, which may indicate a spinal cord problem; numbness worsens with walking; the parallel appearance of a rash or continuous muscle twitching.
Complications
Hands that fall asleep can have a completely innocent cause, but they can also indicate a serious condition. Often it is only a short-term disturbance, perhaps when you have interrupted the blood supply by a certain posture. Of course, hands also fall asleep when exposed to particular cold or when the body lacks vitamins or minerals. However, poisoning can also be behind it, and psychological stress and anxiety can also be the cause. In most cases, the diagnosis is harmless and the falling asleep hands are a thing of the past after a short time. In some cases, however, hands that fall asleep indicate serious diseases that should definitely be treated. It is also possible that only surgery can help to restore blood circulation and nerve pathways. With successful treatment, the hands that fall asleep also disappear. Carpal tunnel syndrome is often diagnosed, where a nerve is pinched in the carpal tunnel.In most cases, surgery is very successful, numbness and pain in the hands usually disappear immediately. However, if the nerve is very damaged, symptoms can remain. If the nerve damage is very pronounced, it can take up to half a year until the patient is free of symptoms. However, if the muscle has already degenerated, even surgery is unsuccessful.
When should you see a doctor?
Sensitivity disorders in the hands such as hands that fall asleep should be familiar to everyone from their own experience. Accordingly relaxed is generally the handling with it. Often, the cause of hands falling asleep is known. Sitting in the same position for a long time can pinch off arm or hand nerves unnoticed. The resulting numbness in the hands quickly resolves after a change of position, with a typical tingling sensation – popularly known as formication – announcing the improvement. Lying awkwardly during sleep can also lead to hands falling asleep. In addition to these harmless causes, however, possible diseases should also be considered in the case of hands that fall asleep. If the condition of hands falling asleep occurs unusually often or if the numbness does not resolve completely, a visit to the doctor should definitely be made. Sometimes hand numbness is caused by a lack of important vitamins and minerals, which is usually due to an unbalanced diet. The situation is more serious in the case of causative diseases such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis. In these cases, the underlying disease must be treated to prevent hands from falling asleep in the future. Of course, the treatment of the underlying disease, which may have been unknown before the visit to the doctor, is of great importance. However, no one should treat hands that frequently fall asleep without direct clinical significance lightly. In addition to a behavioral review, regular visits to the doctor can be useful to prevent nerve damage triggered by the hands falling asleep in time.
Treatment and therapy
Many cases of temporary hands falling asleep can be treated with home remedies. These include symptoms triggered by pressure on the nerves, malnutrition, temperature fluctuations and similar problems. In some cases, the phenomenon passes without any treatment. Changing the sitting position, stretching and massaging the affected areas, relieves the pain and promotes blood circulation. The same applies to warm compresses, hot water bottles and blankets, if the numbness was caused by cold. If malnutrition is present, the diet should be changed and supplements taken if necessary to help the numb hands pass. In cases of numbness during an anxiety attack, only sedation will help, possibly controlled breathing into a paper bag. In some cases, however, hands falling asleep are symptoms of serious illnesses. The type of treatment depends entirely on the nature of the condition. If the treatment is successful, the numbness in the hands resolves. It is quite possible that surgical intervention may be required to restore blood circulation or nerve function.
Outlook and prognosis
Hands that have fallen asleep are a warning sign from the body. There is no need to worry if they are numb from time to time and the symptoms subside quickly. If the limbs are affected regularly during the day and during certain activities, medical help is advisable. The same applies to disorders occurring at night. Without treatment, the general outlook is unfavorable as symptoms increase. Serious sequelae additionally set in and cure becomes a distant prospect. A therapy that is started early instead has good chances for the further course. In most cases, conventional care without surgery is sufficient. In some women, stronger hormonal fluctuations are sometimes noticed in connection with numb fingers. Here the prospects remain favorable, as good ways of treatment exist. More unpleasant are insensitive extremities in chronically ill patients. These include diabetics, rheumatics or patients with diseases of the nervous system. Medical therapy requires significantly more time and effort. Nevertheless, improvement can be expected in the medium term. The general outlook and medical prognosis are particularly poor if sufferers delay going to the doctor for too long. The result is serious and, in many cases, permanent damage to the entire nervous system, muscles or vessels.
Prevention
To prevent hands falling asleep, it is important to know what is causing the numbness.If it is the symptoms of serious diseases such as diabetes, certain nervous or autoimmune diseases, these side effects are difficult to prevent. In this case, the numbness should be seen as a warning signal and a doctor should be consulted. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, including sufficient vitamins and minerals has a preventive effect against hands falling asleep as a symptom of deficiency. Regular stretching and moving during activity in permanent positions, should prevent the temporary falling asleep of the hands in everyday life.
This is what you can do yourself
Hands that have fallen asleep can be treated with warm compresses. They promote blood circulation and lower severe muscle tension. Especially in the affected region, heat helps to circulate blood to the nerve. Nerve functions improve and the numbness subsides. For application, affected persons simply place a warm washcloth on the area. Furthermore, warm showers or heating pads/grain pads help to counteract the discomfort. In addition, hands that have fallen asleep can be treated with massages. They also stimulate blood circulation and the nerves. For the application, affected persons need a little olive oil, coconut oil or mustard oil. This is rubbed into the palm of the hand and massaged with circular movements as well as loosened up. However, the massages should not be performed too vigorously, so as not to irritate the nerve more. Moreover, exercise helps to reduce the discomfort of hands falling asleep. Exercise not only improves the oxygen supply, but also promotes blood circulation. In addition, movement reduces fascial adhesions of muscles, nerves as well as connective tissue. This helps to reduce tingling sensations in the hands. Just 15 minutes of hand exercises in the morning strengthens nerve function. If the movement causes pain, the exercises should be discontinued. Otherwise, the tingling sensation intensifies and the nerve becomes irritated.
