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What are the Different Causes of Tingling Hands?
Tingling hands can be a sign of many things. It may simply be that the hands have been kept in the same position for too long. If a person sleeps with her hands in an abnormal position, when she wakes, her hands may be tingling. There is also a possibility that this strange feeling is a symptom of a more serious medical problem.
If a person has an injured nerve, she may experience tingling hands. The damaged nerve does not need to be in the hand or the arm. Since the nervous system is a network much like the circulatory system, it could possibly be the result of a neck injury.
Tingling hands can also be the result of abnormal pressure on the spinal nerves. This could occur, for example, if a person had a herniated disk. Carpal tunnel syndrome is also a significant possibility. This occurs when pressure is placed on a sensory nerve that crosses the wrist and goes into the hand. Carpal tunnel can result from prolonged performance of certain jobs, such as clerical work, heavy machinery operation, and cashiering.
There is also a possibility that a person may feel tingling sensations in the hands if she is experiencing a transient ischemic attack (TIA). This is a medical condition where a person has symptoms similar to those experienced during a stroke. These include numbing and tingling. TIA symptoms generally last for short periods, ranging from minutes to a day, but may be recurring.
Insufficient blood supply can also cause the abnormal sensations. If a person puts a rubber band around her wrist, for example, she will notice that eventually her hand will begin to tingle. This principal is the same when the blood flow is prevented by an interior medical condition such as cholesterol build up.
An inadequate supply of vitamin B12 may also be the culprit. This vitamin helps the formation of red blood cells and helps to maintain the nervous system. If a person experiences tingling hands and does not eat animal products, she may want to consider a vitamin B12 deficiency as a possibility. Reliable sources of the vitamin come mainly from animal products such as poultry, shellfish, and milk.
Tingling hands is not a very indicative symptom. It is often associated with lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol. It may, therefore, be difficult for a person to know what course of action to take based on that single piece of information. A person who experiences the condition may want to be observant of other symptoms and potential lifestyle factors. Even if a person seeks medical treatment, the attending physician is likely to ask if the tingling hands have been accompanied by anything else.
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![Typing on a keyboard can be hard on the wrists, possibly aggravating carpal tunnel problems.]()
By: StockPhotosArtTyping on a keyboard can be hard on the wrists, possibly aggravating carpal tunnel problems. -
![Tingling hands may be a sign of carpal tunnel.]()
By: maticsandraTingling hands may be a sign of carpal tunnel. -
![Damaged nerves due to injury may cause hand tingling.]()
By: corepicsDamaged nerves due to injury may cause hand tingling.
Discussion Comments
Another cause of tingling hands that many people are not aware of is anxiety. Those who suffer from chronic anxiety and anxiety attacks can get this physical symptom and it can affect the hands, as well as other areas of the body. It's purely psychological but it has physical consequences.
@ysmina-- Do you also have pain around your wrists? If so, you might be developing carpal Tunnel Syndrome which occurs often with typists. One symptom is tingling hands. See a doctor about this so that if it is carpal Tunnel, you can get proper treatment.
Another possibility is the straining of the muscles and tendons due to repetitive movements. This can cause inflammation, pain and tingling in the hands and fingers. Are you using a wrist rest? Or can you lift your chair so that your hands aren't sitting so high up on the table? These are things that can help reduce tension on your hands and improve blood circulation. And yes, take frequent breaks, walk around and stretch. Not just our hands and arms, but our entire skeletal system needs this break.
I type all day for my job and lately, I've been experiencing tingling in my hands and fingers often. I know that it's because I'm keeping my hands up on the desk for long stretches of time. I guess blood circulation gets disrupted and causes the tingling sensation. I do try to take a break every once in a while to walk around and get more blood circulation in my arms and legs. But the tingling seems to be occurring more and more frequently in the past couple of days. It's like my hands just don't want to type anymore.
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