Various causes of tingling and how to deal with it

Nearly everyone has experienced a tingling sensation, such as numbness or numbness, and pins and needles, which come on suddenly in the hand or foot. This sensation is commonly referred to as tingling (paresthesia) because it feels like hundreds of ants are being carried under the skin. It doesn't hurt, but the taste certainly makes you uncomfortable, especially when the limb is moved. So, why do hands, feet, and other limbs get tingling?

What is tingling?

Tingling, or what is often referred to as numbness or numbness, is a loss of sensation in certain parts of the body (numbness) accompanied by other abnormal sensations, such as pins and needles, stinging, tingling, or burning. In the medical world, this condition is called paresthesia.

Paresthesia generally occurs spontaneously or suddenly and often occurs in the hands, arms, fingers, toes, and feet. However, numbness or numbness can also occur on the face or other parts of the body, including the groin to the penis (for men).

Tingling is a natural thing that happens to anyone and is temporary. However, in some cases, tingling in the hands, feet, face, or other limbs can occur on an ongoing basis as a result of nerve damage or disorders of the central nervous system.

What are the causes of tingling?

A common cause of tingling is when a nerve is pinched due to pressure on one particular part of the body, such as an arm or leg, or being in the same position for a long time. For example, sitting cross-legged for too long or sleeping with your hands under your head.

For information, the human body has billions of nerve cells that function as a communication route from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. When the hand or foot is under pressure for a long time, the nerves that radiate in it are compressed or pinched.

The pinched nerve will cause your brain to lack information about the sense of touch that is expected to come from this cluster of nerves. More than that, this pressure will squeeze the arteries in supplying blood to the nerves.

As a result, the nerves cannot receive enough blood and oxygen to work. This then causes the signals coming from the sensory nerves to be blocked or blocked. As a result, there will be numbness in the depressed part of the body.

This is a common cause of numbness that occurs to anyone and is usually brief. This sensation usually goes away as the pressure decreases or when you change your body position.

However, tingling can also occur due to other factors, including as a sign or symptom of a disease. This is an uncommon cause, which often produces numbness over a prolonged period. In this condition, you need to get treatment from a doctor to overcome it.

The following are some of the possible causes of numbness or numbness:

• Nutritional deficiencies

Vitamins B1, B6, and vitamin B12, as well as folic acid are nutrients the body needs to maintain healthy nerve function. If the need for these vitamins is not fulfilled, the nerves can be damaged and cause numbness. In addition, abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, and sodium in the body can be a frequent cause of tingling in various limbs, including the hands, feet, fingertips, palms, soles of the feet, even the head and face (face).

• Certain drugs

Certain drugs, such as drugs for HIV, some antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment, can cause nerve damage and cause numbness in the hands. This numbness can be temporary, but it can also be permanent. Therefore, always consult with your doctor about the side effects of the drugs you are taking.

• Alcohol and peripheral neuropathy

Drinking excessive alcohol can damage nerve tissue in the body. Gradually, this can lead to peripheral neuropathy which causes permanent numbness in one of the limbs, such as the hands, feet and fingers. In this condition, numbness is often constant and is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease caused by problems with the median nerve, which regulates hand movements. As a result, there is numbness and numbness, which is generally accompanied by pain and weakness in the arms and hands. This disease is generally caused by repetitive hand movements, fractures (fractures) in the wrists, to arthritis.

• Multiple sclerosis

Tingling in the face, body, or arms and legs can also be a symptom of multiple sclerosis. In this condition, the numbness can be mild or severe to interfere with your activities, such as being unable to walk or write. Even in severe conditions, numbness can be accompanied by pain and one cannot feel any sensations, including touch or temperature (hot and cold).

• Seizures

Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Reporting from the Keck Medicine of USC, one type of seizure, namely partial or focal seizures, is associated with abnormal sensations such as numbness or numbness in the body, including the mouth, lips, tongue, and gums. Apart from seizures, numbness in the mouth and tongue can also occur due to other things, such as accidentally bitten or an allergic reaction.

• Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted due to a blood clot or a broken blood vessel. This condition can cause a variety of symptoms, such as tingling in the arms or legs, often on one side of the body and head, including the face or face.

• Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation or excessive breathing (rapid breathing) can cause numbness of the fingers and around the mouth by lowering the level of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. This condition is usually accompanied by feelings of anxiety or panic.

• Other causes

On the other hand, various other conditions and complaints are also often associated with the tingling sensation you experience. For example, insect or animal bites, poison in seafood, use of illegal drugs (drugs), or radiation therapy. There are several other medical conditions that often cause numbness, namely:

• Diabetes.
• Impaired kidney function.
• Arthritis or inflammation of the joints.
• Tumor.
• Cancer that has spread to the spine.
• A neck injury that causes numbness along the arm or hand or a back injury that causes numbness in the back of the leg.
• Pressure on the spinal cord, such as a herniated disc.
• Thyroid disorders.
• Autoimmune diseases, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, or Raynauds syndrome.
• Migraine headaches.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Infectious diseases, such as HIV / AIDS, syphilis, herpes, or tuberculosis.

How to deal with tingling?

Under normal conditions, the tingling will go away on its own when the pressure on a certain body part has decreased or if you change your body position. For example, if you sit cross-legged for too long, try standing up and walking for a while.

Then, if you unconsciously rest your hands on one hand while you sleep, try shaking your hands off the numbness. This will allow the blood supply in the affected part of the body to return to normal, thereby relieving the tingling sensation slowly.

It's different if the cause of numbness is more serious. Automatically, how to recover it is not as easy as above. In this condition, how to treat tingling can vary, depending on the cause of the paresthesia you are experiencing.

For example, if you experience tingling in your hands due to carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor may ask you to rest, do movement exercises, or prescribe medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretics. Likewise, if you have peripheral neuropathy or multiple sclerosis, your doctor will usually give you drugs, such as pregabalin (Lyrica), gabapentin (Neurontin), and others.

You may also receive vitamin supplements if your numbness is due to nutritional deficiencies. Meanwhile, if this sensation occurs due to the use of certain drugs, the doctor can change or reduce the dose of the drug you are taking so that you feel less numb.

Meanwhile, a surgical or surgical procedure may be performed if the cause of your numbness is related to a tumor or certain problems in your spine. Make sure to always consult with your doctor about any medical conditions you have, which may be the cause of paresthesia.

In addition to the methods above, don't forget to always adopt a healthy lifestyle to help overcome this condition, such as maintaining optimal body weight, exercising regularly, adopting a balanced diet and avoiding alcohol and cigarettes. Consult with your doctor about implementing a healthy lifestyle that is right for your condition.

What are the signs when you need to watch out for tingling sensations?

Tingling or paresthesia is generally temporary. However, in many cases, paresthesia can be a serious, recurring, or chronic medical condition. Chronic tingling will usually be followed by other symptoms that can interfere with your daily activities.

In this condition, numbness can be a sign of nerve damage due to a variety of underlying medical conditions. For example seizures, traumatic or repeated injuries, viral or bacterial infections, systemic diseases (diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, to cancer), disorders of the nervous system such as peripheral neuropathy, or autoimmune diseases.

Therefore, it is important for you to recognize whether the numbness you feel is a normal condition or a sign of an illness. To make things easier, here are some signs or symptoms of tingling that you need to watch out for:

• Numbness or numbness for no apparent reason (prolonged pressure on hands or feet).
• Experiencing pain in the neck, arm, or finger.
• Urinate more frequently
• The laxity is getting worse so that it is difficult to do activities, such as walking or writing.
• Have a rash.
• Experiencing dizziness, muscle spasms, or other unusual symptoms.

In addition, you should immediately seek medical help or go to the hospital if you have other symptoms along with paresthesia, such as feeling weak or immobile, numbness after a head, neck or back injury, unable to control arm or leg movements, loss of bladder or bowel control, confusion or loss of consciousness, slurred speech, or vision problems.

The medical team and doctors will immediately find out the cause of your condition by checking your medical history, performing a physical examination, and various diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, CT scans, MRI, ultrasound, X-rays, or electromyography (EMG). Based on the results of these diagnostic tests, the doctor will provide the right treatment according to your condition. Always consult with your doctor about the examination and treatment tests.