Quick Links
4 Major Causes of Hand Numbness

Hand numbness is one of the many conditions you do not want to suffer from. Imagine touching a chilled or extremely hot appliance and feeling no sensation in your fingers. Scary, right? This is exactly what happens in hand numbness. While some cases are mild and go away with time, other cases affect the nerves and blood vessels in the hands permanently. The damage caused to the nerve endings at the extremities of the fingers leads to the feeling of numbness and tingles. There are many underlying conditions which can lead to numbness in the hands of which diabetes and alcohol abuse are the most common. Here are a few popular causes of the hand numbness condition.

Causes of hand numbness

  • Raynaud’s Disease – The small arteries in your fingers tend to spasm when you are suffering from this disease. They may also open or close very fast. This leads to extreme pain and numbness in the fingers and the hands as the circulation of blood to the hands and fingers is cut out.
  • Diabetes – Diabetes is one of the most popular causes of hand numbness. Diabetic neuropathy is a condition which leads to significant damage to the nerve endings present in the fingers. Generally, though, this condition originates in the feet and spreads to the rest of the body. Its onset leads to numbness.
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – The nerves that allow your hand the sensation of feeling become pinched or obstructed due to this condition. This results in the feeling of numbness in the thumbs, index fingers and the middle fingers of both hands.
  • Cervical Radiculopathy – The inflammation or compression of the nerve leaving the neck leads to this condition. It results in numbness in the hands. Also known as a pinched nerve, this condition often causes hand numbness among the masses.

Some of the other popular causes of hand numbness include vascular diseases, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. If you are feeling tingly or a numbness in your hands, make sure to visit a doctor. While the condition may be temporary, it does not take long for it to develop into a permanent condition if an underlying condition is causing it. Certain lifestyle changes can go a long way in preventing you from the risk of its onset or further development. Not drinking too much alcohol and limiting your sugar intake can be a head start in this.