Should you sound the alarm if you feel numbness in the area of the hands? To answer this question, you should remember how often and under what circumstances you have this phenomenon. After all , there may be several reasons why the fingers are numb. Let's look at these reasons.
If one day you woke up in the morning and felt that your fingers lost their sensitivity, but after a while everything returned to normal, do not be alarmed: most likely, you just slept on this arm and it “got numb” in you. That is, the blood did not supply enough tissue to the hand, which caused numbness. Or the whole body lay for a long time in an uncomfortable position, which caused the compression of the vertebral discs of the thoracic region, which ultimately led to numbness of the hands.
Another reason why the fingers are numb is the prolonged wearing of a heavy bag on the shoulder strap. Tight cuffs in a shirt can also lead to temporary numbness of the hands. Often, when we write at the blackboard, hang curtains or twist a light bulb, we also feel numbness at our fingertips. This comes from the fact that we hold our hands above our heads for too long.
The answer to the question of why your fingers go numb in frosty weather is that arteries and blood vessels narrow due to temperature contrast. Frequent numbness of the fingers on the hands is observed in representatives of some professions. This is especially true for people who are forced to work at the computer for a long time: controlling the keyboard and mouse requires constant voltage of the brush. The ligaments, muscles and tendons responsible for the work of the fingers run in the so-called carpal tunnel, and with constant tension in this tunnel, an inflammatory process occurs, which is expressed first in the numbness of the fingers, and then, if the tension is not removed, swelling and pain in the hands. This wrist disease, which is called tunnel syndrome, is also found in seamstresses, conveyor workers, and milkmaids.
But speaking of why the fingers are numb, one cannot help but mention that this can be a visible sign of hidden and serious diseases. And if numbness in your hands is observed very often, you must consult a doctor. Most often, the hands become numb due to carpal tunnel syndrome, that is, a pinched nerve due to inflammation and swelling of the tendons. It can also be a consequence of the clamping of the neurovascular bundle, metabolic disorders, intoxication, vitamin deficiency, emotional breakdown, trauma to the shoulder or forearm.
Very often, our hands let us know about violations in those organs, which in general are located far from the fingers. Serious diseases from which the fingertips of a person become numb are osteochondrosis, a hernia or a curvature of the disc, and other pathologies of the vertebral ridge, including the neck.
It is also of no small importance which hand goes numb. If this is left, then there is reason to suspect osteochondrosis of the spinal column. When you feel a characteristic numbness in the area of the little finger or the ring finger on your left hand, this may be the first wake-up call of a stroke - tell the cardiologist about these symptoms.
Let us conclude by not only why the fingers are numb, but also how to avoid this. With monotonous fingers, rest your hands as often as possible. Do simple gymnastics: shake with brushes, make several rotational movements, squeeze and unclench your fist. In cold weather, do not refuse gloves. In early spring, increase the intake of vitamins A and B. If numbness of the limbs is only a symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae or a similar disease, then you need to contact a specialist who in this case will treat the spine, not the hands.