Numbness is a very common condition. You must have experienced it. There are various causes of tingling. Although it looks mild and can go away on its own, this condition cannot be underestimated because it can be a sign of certain diseases.
Tingling, or in medical terms called paresthesias, is generally characterized by numbness or numbness accompanied by a needle-like sensation. This condition can occur anywhere on the body, but is most common in the hands and feet.
Sometimes, the tingling also makes the affected body part weak and stiff. If it occurs in the legs, tingling can make it difficult for the sufferer to walk for a while.
What Causes Tingling?
Tingling there are temporary and some are prolonged (chronic paresthesias), depending on the underlying cause. The following are some of the causes of tingling by nature:
Causes of temporary tingling
Temporary tingling occurs due to pressure in certain body parts for a long time. This causes blood flow to the nerves to be blocked, resulting in tingling.
The following are some conditions that can cause temporary tingling:
- Sitting cross-legged for a long time
- Using shoes that are too small
- Wrong sleeping position, for example head on arm
- Frostbite (frostbite)
- Nerve injury
Because it is temporary, this condition can subside on its own when there is no more pressure on the body. For example, you can straighten your legs after sitting cross-legged. Thus, blood flow will return smoothly.
Another cause of temporary tingling is Raynaud's syndrome. This syndrome can affect the blood supply to certain areas of the body, especially the tips of the fingers and toes.
Causes of prolonged tingling
Prolonged tingling can be a sign of certain health problems that are being experienced. The following are some health problems that can trigger prolonged tingling:
- Diabetes
- Kidney disorders
- liver disease
- stroke
- Brain tumor
- Cancer
- Leprosy
- Hormone imbalance
- Multiple sclerosis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
In addition, the consumption of certain drugs can also trigger prolonged tingling, such as chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, and immunotherapy drugs. Excessive alcohol consumption and exposure to toxic substances, such as mercury, arsenic, and lead, can also trigger this type of tingling.
How to Know the Cause of Tingling?
If you often feel tingling and prolonged, convey your complaints to the doctor. The doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination and investigations to determine the cause.
Several types of investigations that can be performed are blood tests, electromyogram (EMG) tests, cerebrospinal fluid examination, MRI, and biopsy. After the diagnosis is established, the doctor can determine the best treatment according to the cause of the tingling you are experiencing.
For example, if the tingling is caused by diabetes, you are advised to always adopt a healthy diet and take certain medications to control blood sugar levels.
In general, tingling can be avoided by not engaging in nerve-stressing movements and adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as:
- Exercise regularly
- Limiting consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Stop smoking habit
- Eating nutritious food
- Maintain ideal body weight
- Taking prescribed medicines regularly, if you have a chronic disease such as diabetes or hypertension
Most cases of tingling are temporary. However, if the tingling you experience gets worse and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as dizziness, muscle spasms, and feeling weak, you should immediately consult a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be given.