Your hand "falls asleep" due to nerve compression. This usually happens when you maintain a position that puts pressure on the nerves in your hand or arm for an extended period.
Understanding "Hand Falling Asleep"
The sensation of a hand "falling asleep," medically known as paresthesia, is not actually about sleep. Instead, it's a temporary loss of feeling and tingling caused by reduced blood flow and pressure on nerves. This pressure interrupts the signals traveling between your nerves and your brain.
Common Causes of Nerve Compression:
- Prolonged awkward posture: Sleeping on your arm, leaning on your elbows for a long time, or keeping your hand in a bent position for extended durations.
- External pressure: A bump, tumor, or even something as simple as a poorly fitting watch can compress nerves.
Symptoms of Nerve Compression:
- Tingling: A pins-and-needles sensation.
- Numbness: Loss of feeling.
- Weakness: Difficulty moving your hand or fingers.
- Pain: Aching or burning sensation.
Relieving Nerve Compression:
- Change position: The simplest solution is to move your arm and hand to relieve the pressure.
- Gentle movement: Shake your hand or gently move your fingers to restore blood flow.
- Elevation: Raising your hand above your heart can improve circulation.
The provided reference correctly highlights that the primary cause is damage or compression of the nerves in your hand, often resulting from prolonged pressure caused by posture or external objects.