Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Sexual Health, Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Sexual Health, Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Fitness
    • Weight loss
    • Yoga
    • Diet
    • Healthy recipes
    • Weight training
    • Body-Mind-Soul
  • Beauty
    • Home Remedies
    • Hair Care
    • Hair Loss
    • Skin Care
    • Anti-ageing
    • Make-up
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Natural Remedies
    • Alternative Medicine
    • Women’s Health
    • Stress
    • Symptoms A-Z
    • Health A-Z
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Love & Sex
    • Love and Relationships
    • Sex Guide
    • Sex Queries
    • Contraception
    • Sex Positions
    • STDs
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Pregnancy Guide
    • Infertility
    • Conceiving
    • Labour & Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Baby Care
    • Breastfeeding
    • Children’s Health
    • Children’s Nutrition
  • News
  • Galleries
    • Fitness
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Pregnancy
  • Videos
Home / Diseases & Conditions / 10 causes of numbness and tingling sensation

10 causes of numbness and tingling sensation

Feeling weird numbness in the hands and feet? Find out why

By: Shraddha Rupavate   | | Published: August 18, 2014 2:19 pm
Tags: Nerve damage  Nerves  Numbness  

Causes of numbnessNumbness is a weird feeling that eventually leads to loss of sensation in the affected body part. This abnormal feeling, most of the times, arises when a single nerve or several nerves in that area get compressed, damaged or irritated. In some rare conditions, a deeper problem in nervous co-ordination or problems in the brain and the spinal cord may be responsible.  If you’re wondering what could be causing your nerves to get compressed, damaged or irritated, here are some common triggers you should look out for.

Related Stories

  • Peripheral Neuropathy: Get rid of diabetic nerve pain naturally
  • World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2019: 7 MS red flags you shouldn’t miss
  • Gene therapy can speed-up recovery post nerve damage

1. Incorrect posture: The most common cause of numbness is holding an incorrect posture for a long time. Sitting with the legs crossed or standing, such that the body weight is mainly transferred to one of the legs, can exert extra pressure on the nerves in the legs. If your numbness is associated with tingling and acute pain originating from the hip bone, there is a good possibility that you’re suffering from sciatica pain. Sciatica is the major nerve that runs from the hip bone to the extremities. If this nerve gets compressed then numbness and pain could be a regular occurrence for you.

2. B12 deficiency: Vitamin B12 is a crucial nutrient that many people fail to account for in their diet. Unfortunately, B12 deficiency is quite common these days and is one of the factors that triggers nerve damage. B12 is required for the conversion of a compound called methionine into S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). SAM plays an important role in forming the fatty material (myelin) surrounding the nerves. Moreover, the levels of different molecules in the nerve cells become unbalanced due to deficiency of vitamin B12.

3. Smoking, drinking: Nicotine from cigarette smoke directly attacks the nerves and damages them. Smoking has been linked to increased chance of suffering from fibromyalgia. Alcohol on the other hand damages the nerve tissues by dehydrating them. It is linked to peripheral neuropathy.

4. Infection: Viruses can harm the nervous system too. Herpes zoster virus or Shingles is a common cause of numbness.

5. Medication: Drugs like antidepressants and chemotherapeutic agents may act on the nervous system. Overuse of these agents can cause nerve damage and trigger numbness and tingling.

Certain medical conditions also develop tingling sensation and numbness as a key symptom.

6. Carpal tunnel syndrome: If you have been feeling numbness in your hand, especially around the palms and fingers, you could be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Numbness is one of the early signs of carpal tunnel, caused due to excessive pressure on the median nerve running through the wrist. It’s more common in those who perform repeated movements that exert pressure on the wrist. So, if you are used to typing or playing an instrument for long stretches of time, you are more likely to feel numbness due to carpal tunnel.

7. Multiple sclerosis: MS is a condition that causes direct damage to the protective layer called myelin sheath, present around the nerve cells. The damage could even inhibit the transmission of signals to and from the nerves.

8. Seizures:  Those who suffer from convulsions with rapid shaking of the body may experience numbness and tingling sensation in the limbs. This sign is often an indicator of spread of damage to other parts of the body.

9. Diabetes: Uncontrolled sugar levels increases the risk of a complication called diabetic neuropathy. Poor blood circulation and compressed blood vessels deprive the nerve cells of blood and nutrients in it. The earliest sign of nerve damage in diabetics is numbness and tingling in the feet.

10. Hypothyroidism: Some studies show that low levels of thyroid hormones can increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, although the exact link has not yet been established.

Image source: Getty images

You may also like read:

  • 6 tips to relieve pain in carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Lower back pain: Why you shouldn’t ignore it
  • Why you shouldn’t ignore constant body aches

For more articles, visit our diseases and conditions section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our Questions and Answers section.

References:

  • Grattan-Smith PJ, Wilcken B, Procopis PG, Wise GA. The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: developmental regression and involuntary movements. Mov Disord. 1997 Jan;12(1):39-46.
  • Palumbo CF, Szabo RM, Olmsted SL. The effects of hypothyroidism and thyroid replacement on the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 2000 Jul;25(4):734-9. PubMed PMID: 10913216.
  • A.D.A.M. medical encyclopedia [Internet] Numbness and tingling. Seattle (WA): A.D.A.M. Inc.; Apr 5, 2013. [cited 2014 Aug 18]. c1997-2014
Published : August 18, 2014 2:19 pm
Read Disclaimer

Emerging natural treatments for diabetes in India

Emerging natural treatments for diabetes in India

Health benefits of zucchini

Health benefits of zucchini

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Related Stories

Peripheral Neuropathy: Get rid of diabetic nerve pain naturally

Peripheral Neuropathy: Get rid of diabetic nerve pain naturally

World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2019: 7 MS red flags you shouldn’t miss

World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2019: 7 MS red flags you shouldn’t miss

Gene therapy can speed-up recovery post nerve damage

Gene therapy can speed-up recovery post nerve damage

This is how you can tackle a pinched nerve in the neck

This is how you can tackle a pinched nerve in the neck

Co-relation between heavy schools bags and spinal deformity

Co-relation between heavy schools bags and spinal deformity

Health News in Hindi

वेट लॉस के वो टिप्स जो बिना डाइट प्लान व एक्सरसाइज के वजन घटाते हैं

वेट लॉस के वो टिप्स जो बिना डाइट प्लान व एक्सरसाइज के वजन घटाते हैं

Fruits for Weight Loss : 7 फल, जिन्हें खाते ही 7 दिनों में शुरू हो जाएगा वजन कम होना

Fruits for Weight Loss : 7 फल, जिन्हें खाते ही 7 दिनों में शुरू हो जाएगा वजन कम होना

शिल्पा शेट्टी की पसंदीदा हेल्दी वेजिटेबल रेसिपी जो वेट लॉस में है मददगार

शिल्पा शेट्टी की पसंदीदा हेल्दी वेजिटेबल रेसिपी जो वेट लॉस में है मददगार

Diabetes Causes Myths : अधिक मीठा खाने से होती है डायबिटीज ? जानें, डायबिटीज होने के कारण और मिथक

Diabetes Causes Myths : अधिक मीठा खाने से होती है डायबिटीज ? जानें, डायबिटीज होने के कारण और मिथक

Winter Allergies : सर्दियों में होने वाली एलर्जी के कारण, लक्षण और उपचार

Winter Allergies : सर्दियों में होने वाली एलर्जी के कारण, लक्षण और उपचार

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Are you constantly scared of some undiagnosed medical condition? You may be a hypochondriac
  • Beware of third-hand smoke: It can kill your child
  • 5 stretches that can loosen up your frozen shoulder
  • Add pumpkins to your diet if you want to lose weight
  • Bad food choices may increase your risk of cancer

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Quick Weight Loss Tips
  • Power Yoga
  • Yoga and Diet Tips
  • Yoga Surya Namaskar
  • Weight Loss Yoga Poses
  • Quick Diabetic Diet Recipes
  • Diabetes Diet Tips
  • Clove Oil Beauty Benefits
  • To Loss Belly Fat
  • Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Cancer
  • Symptoms of Chikungunya
  • Symptoms of Dengue
  • Hepatitis b
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Back Pain
  • Slipped Disc
  • Teeth Sensitive
  • Breast Cancer
  • EBOL Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Symptoms of Vitamin B12
  • Acne
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Quit Smoking
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Flat Abs
  • Apple Cider Vinegar

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2019 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.