Why Do I Numb My Hands In My Sleep?

Are your hands numb in your sleep? Have you ever woken up suddenly with an unusual sensation and some annoying tingling in your hands? Do I numb your hands several times a night, making you wake up with the same weird feeling? If so, then continue reading this article and we will explain in detail what are the most common causes and remedies of this phenomenon.

Cramps or numbness in the hands can be caused by something normal: sleeping in a bad position that blocks blood circulation. But other times they have nothing to do with the position in which you sleep. Numbness is an unpleasant sensation that sometimes occurs in other areas of the body, such as the legs. Let’s see what the causes are.

Why do our hands fall asleep?

Metacarpal tunnel

• This is certainly the most common cause of numbness in your sleep. The three main fingers, the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger are the most affected by carpal tunnel syndrome.
• This condition is associated with the median nerve and is a peripheral neuropathy that puts pressure on the wrist, causing symptoms such as pain, difficulty moving, loss of sensitivity and numbness. And these annoying effects are felt especially at night, when you numb your hands in your sleep.

Daytime activities

• Sometimes the wrists are overworked. Manual activities, such as word processing, use of scissors, various tools, sewing, etc. can affect the nerves in the hands.

• Continuous bending and straightening of this area can overload it. The pain occurs especially at night, when you stop moving, and the nerves and tendons release pressure with the greatest intensity.

Water retention

Extra pounds, lack of exercise or inadequate nutrition can cause not only swelling of the feet but also of the hands due to water retention in the body. The tingling during the night is much more intense and the circulation is affected, creating a pressure that causes great discomfort.

Vitamin B12 deficiency

• A poor and incorrect diet leads to a deficiency of vitamin B. This lack of vitamins has consequences that are often neglected and attributed to fatigue at work or in everyday life.
• The symptoms associated with vitamin B deficiency are: fatigue, lethargy, pallor of the skin, the feeling that you suffer from tachycardia and numbness in the hands and feet. In case of vitamin B deficiency, you will notice that your hands are numb in your sleep.

Remedies for situations where your hands are numb in your sleep

• Before going to bed, drink a tablespoon of flaxseed oil. According to several studies, flaxseed oil is an effective anti-inflammatory that acts mainly on the extremities of the body, improving the sensation you have when your hands fall asleep.
• Immerse your hands in the sink with fresh water.  If you add a few ice cubes, the remedy will be even more effective. It will relieve pressure, inflammation around the nerves and pain. Do this before going to bed and you will notice that you will rest better.
• Eliminate salt and sour drinks from your diet. These products exacerbate pain and inflammation. It is good to avoid them, especially if you numb your hands in your sleep.
• Hydrate well, drink at least two liters of water a day. You could, for example, prepare an artichoke-based drink with diuretic and detoxifying effects, which prevents water retention. All you have to do is boil a few artichokes in water and then strain them. Mix the liquid with the juice of half a lemon.

• It is important to include vitamin B in your diet. Tuna, potatoes, bananas and all leafy green vegetables contain this essential vitamin for the body. In addition, you can find vitamin B supplements in pharmacies or health food stores that complement the diet.
• If you frequently perform manual activities that force you to use your hands or wrists for several hours, use an elastic band for your wrist. This will put enough pressure to protect the nerves and wrists and prevent their overload.