Why do hands fall asleep when sleeping?

It has happened to all of us at some point. You get up in the morning to go to the bathroom and discover that your hand or arm is completely numb.. The tingling sensation can be mild or intense, and inactivity in your extremities can make you anxious. If it has happened to you several times, today we will tell you why your hands fall asleep when you sleep.

Contrary to what you believe, most cases are benign. It is due to a process of nerve compression that temporarily prevents the sending of electrical signals. The medical term for this is paresthesia., a condition that can also be generated without physical compression on the outside. We’ll talk to you about it shortly.

Numbness in hands when sleeping

Numbness in the hands when sleeping, or paresthesia, is a very common condition that affects people of all ages. It is characterized by a sensation of stiffness and tingling that does not impede the flexibility of the joints.

As you are already guessing, it is generated because you compress your arm or hand while you sleep. If part of your body presses on the limb, the blood supply and communication of some nerves is interrupted. It can also be generated by prolonged inactivity processes..

The change in position with respect to your body can also generate the symptom; This may be your case if you stretch out one of your arms, and it falls slightly over the edge of the bed. It is usually temporary and disappears gradually until mobility is completely restored.

Of course, this condition can also be a symptom of some underlying problem. Although the explanation given is the most common, you may be developing these episodes due to the following conditions:

Peripheral neuropathy

In accordance with Harvard Health Publishing This is one of the main causes of why your hands fall asleep when you sleep. Peripheral neuropathy is the interruption of communication in the nerves of the peripheral system, causing numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

Its prevalence in the population is around 2.4%, although in adults over 55 years of age the number rises to 8%. (according to the evidence). There are many explanations for this condition. If you are diabetic, have suffered an infection, have been exposed to toxins or have had a recent trauma, you may develop it.

Thoracic outlet syndrome

It is also known as thoracic outlet compression syndromes, because they are actually several disorders with common characteristics. It occurs when the nerves or blood vessels between the first rib and the collarbone become compressed.

This causes numbness in the hands, which can extend to the entire arm and part of the neck. It is relatively common, especially among those who spend several hours in front of the computer. The reason for this is that the head tends to move forward a little in relation to the body, which creates pressure in the area.

Cervical neck stenosis

Also called cervical spinal stenosis or spinal canal stenosis. It is caused by narrowings in the spaces of the spinal column that cause little room for the nerves. When this happens, they put pressure on each other and lead to communication errors.

Most patients do not develop symptoms, except for numbness or tingling in the fingers of the extremities. This worsens when lying down, because the position of the spine and neck generates more pressure. Many use neck braces to relieve this sensation during their rest hours.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Another common condition among those who spend a lot of time in front of screens. It is estimated that affects between 4% and 5% of the population worldwide, so it is not a rare condition. It is caused by compression of the median nerve that passes through your wrist.

It is not uncommon for feelings of tingling, numbness, and weakness to invade you while you sleep. The syndrome is caused by an anatomical defect in your wrist, repetitive movements, injuries, trauma or other diseases. It is one of the most common causes of why your hands fall asleep when you sleep.

We could continue this list presenting more than a hundred conditions, but these four are undoubtedly the main ones that cause numbness of the extremities when sleeping. We still point out a list with other possible explanations:

Diabetes. Spasticity. Shingles. Panic attacks. Mineral deficiency (iron, potassium, sodium, calcium, vitamin B12 and others). Ingestion of some foods. Ingestion of recreational drugs before sleeping. Migraine with aura.

What to do to avoid hand numbness when sleeping?

Despite the above list, keep in mind what we have already told you: The answer to why your hands fall asleep while sleeping is found in compressions during sleep. To verify if this is the true cause, you can include a series of habits during rest hours. Among the main ones we highlight the following:

Avoid sleeping in the fetal position. Do not put your hand under the pillow when sleeping on your side. If you sleep on your stomach, make sure your arms are at your sides. Prevent your entire body from compressing them by placing them under your chest. Make sure your entire body is on the same line. If you raise or lower your hands in relation to your head, numbness can occur.

Another thing you can do, if you spend a lot of time in front of the computer, is include short breaks of 5-10 minutes in which you will do short stretching sessions. Massaging your arms and hands before going to sleep is also a point in your favor.

All this of course in case it is a problem with understanding when sleeping. Apply these tips for a week and, if you do not see improvement, consider seeing a specialist to rule out or confirm any of the conditions mentioned. Do this especially if the episodes are very frequent and intense..

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