Many of our limbs, especially our hands and feet, can tingle. But have you ever wondered why this happens? We explained why this condition called paresthesia occurs.
Imagine coming home after a busy day and throwing yourself into bed quickly. You slept so soundly that you woke up in the same position as you slept. But when you got up, you noticed something. You feel as if hundreds of ants are crawling inside your right arm. Since you’ve experienced something like this before, you started to wait a bit. Indeed, within 1-2 minutes you felt that tingling went away and you returned to your daily life. Have you ever experienced such an event before?
Yes, we are talking about what is popularly known as a tingling sensation. In daily life, we usually experience this tingling sensation when we lie on our limbs such as our arms or feet or when we are under a weight. So what exactly is this feeling that almost everyone experiences? Why do we encounter such a thing? Does this tingling sensation we experience indicate a problem? Today we will present you the answers to the questions we mentioned above.
Why do we feel tingling in our hands or feet?
The tingling sensation, which is a condition experienced by almost everyone, is experienced most often when you lie on your arm. So, do you know what the reason for this is? In this condition, called “paresthesia,” the nerve sends extra signals to the brain as it is irritated. In a way, there is a traffic jam in the signals sent by our nerves and we feel it as thousands of needles being pricked or an army of ants walking inside us.
To explain more clearly why paresthesia is experienced, you may think that the nerves in your arm, on which you constantly lie, are compressed by your own weight after a while. As the nerves are compressed, the vessels that carry blood to the nerve are also compressed. The nerve, which cannot reach a constant oxygen and glucose, cannot work for a long time.
When we wake up in the morning, we start moving normally again. Thanks to this movement, the weight on the nerve and the congestion in the vessels are resolved. At this point , nerve cells begin to be stimulated again. When the nerve structures begin to heal, we begin to experience a tingling sensation in our body. Although it can be an uncomfortable and strange sensation, the tingling sensation is often considered a good sign. If paresthesia, a short-lived stage that shows nerves coming back to life, persists for longer periods, it may be necessary to consult a doctor.
When can the tingling sensation start to be dangerous?
The cases of paresthesia we have described above are generally short-lived and harmless. An arm you lie on may experience a tingling sensation in the limbs, such as a foot passing out under the weight of your loved one. Of course, this feeling is short-lived. In some cases, the tingling sensation may be experienced for longer periods. Some people may even experience a tingling sensation for years. The reason for this is shown as the nerve cells are seriously damaged during a sleep instead of being crushed. For example, your nerves can be seriously injured as a result of an accident. This causes you to live with a constant tingling sensation. For example, “Carpal tunnel syndrome” can be given as an example.
There may be a constant tingling sensation without any accident. Individuals who experience this frequently are likely to have a problem with their nervous system. If you experience the tingling sensation frequently and for no reason, you can consult a doctor.