Numbness in hands and feet, why does it happen? Let’s explore the different underlying conditions behind this symptom.
If you’re outside during winter weather, it’s probably not surprising that your hands get cold. However, if your hands feel cold and numb while you’re indoors or during warm weather, it may be a cause of concern.
Unexpected cold and numb hands are generally a symptom of an underlying cause. Fortunately, the cause isn’t always something serious and can be taken care of with the right treatment.
The following are some conditions that lead to numbness in hands and feet.
1. Stroke
While having a stroke is definitely a serious and life threatening disease, numb hands are not usually a sign that you had one. While unlikely, it’s important to be on the lookout for other symptoms in addition to numbness in hands.
These symptoms may give a clearer picture as to whether you’re having a stroke or not.
Call 911 if you suddenly experience confusion, vision impairment, severe headaches, weakness on one side of the body, face drooping, dizziness, and trouble communicating.
2. Vitamin Deficiency
Vitamins and nutrients are essential to overall health and a deficiency of certain nutrients can lead to tingling and numbness in hands and feet. Three nutrient deficiencies that can cause this include a lack of vitamin B12, potassium, and magnesium.
Moreover, you can also experience fatigue, difficulty walking, hallucinations, weakness, jaundice, and trouble with your thought process.
3. Medication Side Effects
Medications are often necessary to treat diseases like cancer and seizures. However, some of these drugs may cause neuropathy (nerve damage) as a side effect, leaving your hands and feet feeling numb.
Medications that can lead to numbness include anticancer drugs, heart and blood pressure drugs, antibiotics, and antiseizure drugs. Furthermore, you may also experience other side effects related to neuropathy like weakness, tingling, and an abnormal feeling in the hands.
4. Cervical Disc Damage
The vertebrae (bones) in your spine are kept apart by sift cushions called discs. If you have a tear in one or more of your cervical discs, the soft material inside of it squeezes out, leading to a slipped or herniated disc.
Since the disc cannot function effectively, it can put pressure and irritate the nerves in the spine. This irritation can cause numbness, weakness, and pain in the arms and legs.
5. Poor Circulation
One of the most common causes of numbness in the hands and feet is a lack of blood flow. If blood is not circulating effectively to your extremities, you will experience cold, numb hands and feet.
One disease that particularly affects your circulation is Raynaud’s disease. Raynaud’s causes blood vessels to narrow, which prevents the necessary amounts of blood to reach your hands.
Because blood is not able to flow effectively to your extremities, your fingers and toes can turn pale, cold, numb, and painful. In the case of Raynaud’s, the symptoms manifest during cold temperatures and times of stress.
What can I do?
Since numbness in hands is a symptom, the best way to treat it is to deal with the underlying condition. While causes like stroke or drug side effects will need to be handled by a professional medical expert, there are things you can do with milder conditions.
For example, if the reason for the numbness is vitamin deficiency, you simply have to get the necessary amounts in your system. If the reason is poor blood circulation, then take the necessary steps to improve blood flow such as exercising and eating healthy.
In the case of poor blood flow, another thing you can try is taking circulation supplements like Circulation Boost. The supplement combines various ingredients that work within the arteries to boost nitric oxide production.
Nitric oxide production is a natural molecule that widens the blood vessels, making it easier for blood to circulate to your hands effectively. Moreover, Circulation Boost contains vitamin B12, magnesium, and other key vitamins and minerals.
In other words, if the reason behind numbness in your hands is vitamin deficiency and poor circulation, Circulation Boost can help. However, it’s important to see a doctor if the numbness spreads throughout the body, happens after an injury or illness, or is accompanied by additional symptoms.