A fairly common phenomenon is when some part of the body is numb. This is an inconvenience to any person. When the left side of the body goes numb, health problems can be the cause. If this happens all the time and suddenly, then you need medical attention.
Paresthesia - loss of sensitivity of the skin, or tingling. The disease may be temporary or permanent. Some of these symptoms are alarming, while others may not pay attention to it. But sometimes such sensations are symptoms of serious ailments.
How does malaise appear?
If the left side is numb, the reasons may be in the problems of the passage of impulses along the nerve processes. Loss of skin sensitivity results from a disorder or damage to nerve fibers. The area of the integumentary tissue does not receive a signal, loses sensitivity.
The factors of the appearance of malaise, which determine the nature of the ailment, are five. If you know about the part of the loss of sensitivity, it will turn out to name the cause of the symptom:
- Signaling is stopped by the brain. Such cases are serious. Because of this, the left side of the face or the rest of the body is numb.
- Violations of the nervous system. Due to the pinched nerves, the signal to the parts of the body is complicated. For this reason, different parts of the body are changed - cheeks, chin, fingers, hips, knees.
- Circulatory disorders. With infringement, oxygen oil enters the vessels. This becomes the reason that the left side is numb.
- Muscle cramps complicate the passage of an impulse through the nerve endings.
- Components that adversely affect the skin. For example, with the use of large amounts of alcohol, the fingers become numb. Workers in professions that require contact with chemicals (workshop workers, builders, metallurgists) are more susceptible to loss of sensitivity. In these situations, numbness can be from dangerous components - arsenic, lead, mercury, solvents. Another such problem appears in visitors to the dentist's office. When filling material penetrates the tooth canal, there is a risk of loss of sensitivity of the lips, tongue, nose, cheeks.
These are the main factors why the left side of the body is numb. Whatever the cause of this phenomenon, timely treatment prescribed by a doctor is necessary.
When is it not worth going to the doctor?
Numbness is a reaction of the body to negative environmental conditions. But sometimes it has serious consequences. If the left side is numb, it is often associated with such ailments as stroke or atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is necessary to know about the types of malaise when it is considered a natural reaction of the body to irritations and does not need treatment, and when the first manifestations need medical attention.
Do not consult a doctor with the following numbness:
- Short-term (stored for several minutes and not repeated).
- The appearance of discomfort after prolonged sitting or lying in an uncomfortable position.
- Tingling, goosebumps.
When to see a doctor?
A doctor’s consultation is required when:
- Periodic repetitions of this symptom.
- Duration over time.
- The occurrence of burning, vomiting, involuntary urination.
Type 1 numbness often appears due to the prolonged stay of the body in one position. After prolonged use of the monitor, sleeping in an inappropriate position, tingling, goosebumps, and pallor of the skin occur.
Another factor in the symptoms of such symptoms is considered a change in temperature - after a walk in the cold, tingling of the face, fingers, feet occurs. If the numbness does not disappear with the massage, you should consult a doctor, this is likely a frostbite.
Diagnosis of the body is necessary if paresthesia occurs periodically, discomfort does not disappear for several minutes, and also appeared:
- redness or blueness of the skin;
- vomiting, headache;
- edema;
- loss of connected speech;
- impaired motor function of the limbs;
- uncontrolled urination and bowel movements.
Such phenomena are considered symptoms of severe ailments. Doctors do not advise to delay the first appearance of numbness of an incomprehensible nature. In these situations, medical care is required, otherwise there will be a deterioration.
Pathology
If the left side is numb, then this may be a symptom of 3 diseases. Usually ailments appear due to a stroke. This disease develops when blood circulation in the brain is disturbed. Vessels that provide nutrients to all organs are clogged. Often, due to a stroke, hemorrhage is observed in the brain or under its shell.
The main feature of paresthesia during a stroke is one-sided nature. This means that numbness of the right side can also be a symptom of this ailment. Paresthesia appears on the entire half of the body with a face or only on the extremities. In addition to numbness, speech disturbance, a change in vision, and a violation of coordination occur.
If the left side of the head or the whole body goes numb, then the cause may be a brain tumor, as well as similar diseases - vascular aneurysms, hematomas of the dura mater. The main sign of ailments is their frequency: pains appear periodically, then subside, accumulating intensity.
The left side of the legs is numb and the central nervous system is disturbed with multiple sclerosis. The lining of the nerve endings of the brain is destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. Based on this, the body becomes numb, there is a loss of mobility of the limbs, and vision deteriorates.
Not very serious paresthesias are observed with polyneuropathy and radicular syndrome. Group 1 includes diabetics. With a high glucose content, disorders of the peripheral nerves and blood vessels appear. This manifests itself in the form of numbness on the periphery of the limbs.
Group 2 includes patients with radiculitis. When the disease is observed, pinched nerves in the segments of the spine and spinal cord. The limb areas are numb: some fingers and a hand. With radicular syndrome, a burning sensation of the numb part of the body is likely, which becomes stronger at night. Numbness also occurs due to Raynaud's syndrome, after operations and with atherosclerosis of blood vessels.
Diagnostics
If the left side of the body is often numb, then you need to see a doctor. First, the identification of the cause of the pathology is required. To do this, you need to carry out several procedures:
- Blood and urine tests.
- Diagnosis of the spine, joints, brain, blood vessels.
- Checking the condition of the heart.
Treatment
Only after establishing the cause, the doctor can prescribe treatment. It differs depending on the pathology:
- With a risk of stroke, hospitalization of the patient is required. If symptoms are quickly identified, then the chances of a positive treatment are greater. 4-4.5 hours after the onset of the first symptoms, brain disorders appear that cannot be fixed.
- When a neoplasm in the brain is considered to be the cause of paresthesia, then it is necessary to undergo an MRI of the brain and an ultrasound of the brain and cervical vessels. Then you need to see a doctor who, based on the results of the tests, will choose the appropriate treatment method.
- If symptoms of multiple sclerosis occur, treatment is required in a neurological hospital under the supervision of a physician. He will establish the stage of the disease and prescribe drugs.
- If there is a risk of developing polyneuropathy, a fasting blood test is required and an endocrinologist is visited. A neurologist will get rid of the radicular syndrome and direct to the examination of the problem area.
Prevention
The occurrence of any disease can be prevented with the help of proper prevention. To prevent numbness, exercise should be performed for several minutes. A properly constructed training, in which the alternation of static and dynamic loads occurs, allows you to prevent pinching of the nerves, as well as numbness of parts of the body. It is advisable to charge every day.
Proper nutrition is needed to reduce the risk of diabetes and atherosclerosis. It is advisable to limit the intake of foods rich in carbohydrates, include fiber and vitamins in the menu. The malaise appears during rest, so you need a comfortable place to sleep.
Recommendations
It is better not to treat numbness with folk remedies. They have a surface effect, only temporarily eliminating discomfort. In the future, there may be an aggravation of the problem, so it is advisable to seek the help of a specialist.
Total
Numbness is considered a symptom of probable health problems. Do not despair and give up. This problem is being solved. It is necessary to pass tests, make an appointment with a specialist. It is important to devote more time to your body: play sports, often be in nature. With a healthy lifestyle, there will be no room for disease.