People Overlook Hand Numbness, But It’s a Serious Symptom

Most people associate hand numbness with carpal tunnel syndrome, and it is certainly true that this symptom is one of the manifestations of this disease. However, this seemingly-harmless symptom can actually point to various, often very dangerous, diseases. Sometimes, hand numbness can even be an early sign of a medical emergency. Therefore, it is certainly useful to know the less-known causes of hand numbness, which is what we discuss in this article.

1. Diabetic Neuropathy

This is a type of nerve damage that occurs in some patients suffering from diabetes. High blood glucose levels can damage nerves throughout the body, but, most often, it affects nerves in the extremities.

Nerve damage manifests itself in the form of tingling, loss of sensation and control, pain and numbness in the hands and feet. Diabetic neuropathy is considered a serious complication of diabetes and, in severe and untreated forms, it can even require amputation. 

 

Luckily, a regular maintenance of blood sugar levels can usually prevent the development of diabetic neuropathy completely.

2. Brachial Plexus Injury

Hand numbness may indicate an injury of a set of nerves in your shoulder called the brachial plexus. These nerves (pictured below) connect your spinal cord to your shoulder, arm and hand, and an injury in one of these nerves can be quite disabling.

Brachial plexus injuries are more common than you might think:

They are known as stingers or burners in the sports world, and contact sports athletes get them a lot.

Babies can suffer from an injured brachial plexus during birth.

Inflammation and tumours too, compress and disturb the brachial plexus

These injuries usually heal completely or in part, but it takes time and avoidance of further damage, though sensation in some parts of the arm and hand may never fully recover.

3. Vitamin B 12 deficiency

 

Something as trivial as a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause peripheral neuropathy, a nerve damage in your extremities.

We have written about the health benefits of B12, of which there are many, but a lack of this essential vitamin in our daily intake can lead to pernicious anemia, which affects the functioning of neurons, usually starting from the extremities.

This is only one symptom of the deficiency, others include:

headaches

 

shortness of breath 

 

fatigue

 

a bright red smooth tongue.

 

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a serious chronic condition that, in most cases, can be easily treated with supplements.

4. Ganglion Cysts

These non cancerous tumors can develop along the joints of your wrists and hands, as well as ankles and feet, although it is fairly rare. These cysts vary in size, and they feel like a bead filled with fluid.

Depending on their size and location, they can press on the nerve and interfere with movement. This can be painful, and can cause numbness in the hand, which likely means that the cyst will have to be removed or drained by a professional.

5. Lyme disease

Let us just mention that this medical condition is transmitted to humans through tick bites.

Lyme disease is on the rise worldwide, and it is dangerous because many people don’t even suspect they have it until it’s too late, as it can cause severe nerve damage and heart problems.

Still, if you catch the disease early, patients can recover completely. Numbness in the hands can be a sign of developing Lyme disease.

6. Raynaud's disease

 

To put it simply, patients with Raynaud’s syndrome can suddenly have very poor blood circulation in the hands. The cause varies from person to person, with anything from cold temperatures to stress being capable of causing an episode.

During an episode, a person fingers (or toes) suddenly turns white. After a few minutes, the person loses sensation in the area and the affected region turns blue and cold, and numb, which means that the blood circulation was cut off from that area.

Mild episodes subside on their own, but more severe cases can be dangerous if not treated, as the tissues in the affected area may start deteriorating and amputation may be necessary to prevent further damage of the healthy tissue.

7. Multiple Sclerosis

You have nothing to fear if you experience numbness or weakness in the hands after a long day of typing or work that requires a lot of small motor movements, but recurring numbness is never a good sign.

If you find that regular hand numbness and weakness is accompanied by tremors, migraines, a lack of coordination and confusion, you have to see a doctor, as it may indicate MS.

Unfortunately, this disease is still incurable, but doctors learned to manage the progression of the symptoms, which can really improve the quality of life of MS sufferers.

8. Cervical Disk Degeneration

With age, the cartilage disks that prevent our vertebrae from rubbing and affecting each other wear down. These disks are made of a gel-like substance, which gradually lose water and do a worse job at preventing friction and trauma of the nerves.

This process is called disk degeneration, and the disease linked to it is called degenerative disc disease. Among the symptoms of this disease in the cervical area are radiating pain in the arm, as well as loss of sensation in the hands.

Factors like smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and genetic predisposition can make the disks wear down faster, with people as young as 20 now experiencing the first signs, according to some sources.

9. Paraneoplastic Syndrome

 

 

Admittedly not very common, these syndromes are a side-effect of fighting cancer. Paraneoplastic syndromes can affect any system, but it most commonly attacks the nervous system.

In these cases, your immune system attacks any nerve in the nervous system, the brain, or the spinal cord, but it commonly affects peripheral nerves and causes neuropathic symptoms, among which is loss of sensation. With time, the symptoms may improve, but some patients experience residual effects.

10. Fibromyalgia

 

 

Fibromyalgia is a difficult condition to live with or treat, as the causes are unknown, though professionals believe that both psychological and biological factors may influence the progression of the disease. It is also more common in women than in men.

Most known for the tender points, which cause constant pain to the patient (shown in the picture above), this condition has many other manifestations, with the symptoms following being just a few common ones:

hand numbness

fatigue

restlessness

trouble falling asleep

anxiety

depression

 

 

11. Stroke

 

 

One of the early signs of stroke can be sudden-onset hand numbness, often accompanied by the inability to lift the affected hand.

It also needs to be noted that usually affects only one side of the body. 

 

The possibility of stroke is a medical emergency, and if you experience these symptoms, along with other stroke symptoms, which you can learn to identify here, don’t hesitate and go to the emergency room. 

 

The earlier you get a treatment, the more likely you are to recover without any major disability.

Disclaimer: If you experience recurring hand numbness, please turn to your doctor, who will be able to diagnose you. The facts in this article are provided for informative purposes only.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Reasons why some people feel colder or hotter than others

Why some people feel colder or hotter than other people

Have you ever come across people who constantly complain about feeling too hot or too cold, while you sat there feeling the complete opposite? Probably yes! At home or at the office, there's always this one person expressing dissatisfaction about the thermostat settings, about the air conditioner being too low or too high and so on.

The average normal body temperature is generally said to be 98.6°F (37°C). What is important to understand is that body temperatures may vary from person to person depending on their age, activity and the time of the day. While all humans are warm blooded and can regulate their body temperatures, there are some people who may feel colder or hotter than other individuals. This could be due to several factors. Let us take a look at them.

Age

As compared to younger adults, older people are unable to regulate their body temperatures. This is because as we age, our metabolism starts to slow down. A slower metabolism can then cause the body temperature to drop, which is why older people are more prone to hypothermia and must keep themselves well covered at all times. Leading a sedentary life may also give rise to such problems. 

Sex

The female body has less muscle mass as compared to men which is why it generates a lesser amount of heat from the skin pores, making them feel colder than the men, even with the same room temperature, explains Dr. Rob Danoff, a physician from Philadelphia.

However, when it comes to menopausal, middle-aged women, they may feel warmer than their male counterparts. This is not because they develop muscle mass but because they experience certain hormonal changes, as per the expert.

Why size matters

As per experts, body size can also be one of the reasons why some people feel hotter or colder than others. The larger the body, the greater the heat sink, hence leading to a longer time to cool down, says Ollie Jay, a researcher of physiology at the University of Sydney.

Body fat

Studies have shown people who have a larger amount of fat in the body may feel warmer than those who are leaner. It is because the extra fat is said to heat up the body, since it acts like an extra layer of clothing.

However, in some circumstances, obese and overweight people may feel colder than people who have normal weight. This has to do with the function of the circulatory system. That said, when you feel hot, the blood vessels widen, which allows the blood to flow through them and reach the skin, from where the excess heat is excreted. But since subcutaneous fat traps heat, it keeps the core warm, while cooling down the skin surface. This according to Catherine O’Brien, a research physiologist with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, may result in obese people feeling colder than others. 

Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions may also affect people's body temperature.

For instance, hypothyroidism, which is also known as underactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones that helps regulate important bodily functions like metabolism, energy levels and so on, it could lead to making a person feel colder.

Raynaud’s disease is a condition that causes certain parts of the body such as the toes and the fingers to feel cold and numb, especially in cold temperatures or due to stress. In this, small arteries become narrower, limiting the flow of the blood to affected areas. 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Health Checks Worth Doing on a Regular Basis

Illness is something we as humans are forever dreading, especially since we know some cases can be chronic or life-threatening. The worst part is, we don’t realize we're ill until the symptoms become unavoidable. By following the self-checks below you can assure yourself of your body's health - they’re quick, easy and definitely worth knowing! You’d be surprised to see what the smallest sign in your body may indicate.

1. Check your eyes for cholesterol levels 

A lack of white in your eyes normally indicates that you’re tired or hung-over, but surprisingly enough, excess white in your eyes, such as a white line circling your iris, might be indicative of high cholesterol levels. Finding that your eyelids have a flat, yellowish color with velvety patches is also a serious sign. Do not let this symptom go unnoticed and risk getting further complications, such as coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks in the future. See your GP to get your cholesterol checked and treated! 

 

2. Count your moles to check for skin diseases 

Moles are generally harmless, but if you find that you have more than 50 moles on your body, take this as a big warning sign, especially if they are multi-colored, growing in size, seem inflamed, or have a ragged edge. If you notice any of these signs in your moles, a good idea would be to regularly keep a record of their development by taking photos so it would be easier for your doctor to inspect them. If your moles also start to redden, become itchy or even bleed, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Such unusual-looking moles may be the cause of a type of skin cancer called malignant melanoma. Take our moles test to see if you know your moles. 

 

3. Look for signs before you flush the toilet 

 Our excretions can also tell us about the health of our intestines, our digestion and our level of hydration. Every stool color, for instance, indicates different dietary causes or even problems. For example, a yellow color indicates excess fats, due to a malabsorption disorder such as celiac disease. What is most worrying is finding black or red stools, which may signify stomach or intestinal bleeding. These call for prompt medical attention. Urine can also be checked for its color: A pale color signifies good health, whereas a dark yellow color might mean you're dehydrated and need to increase your intake of water.

4. Check your eyebrows for thyroid health 

 If you notice an unusual lack of thickness in your eyebrows, it could be that you are suffering from an underactive thyroid, which means that your thyroid gland is not producing enough hormones. You may need to speak to a doctor, especially if you are also gaining weight and feeling tired and/or depressed. A blood test should easily confirm this problem. If left untreated, it might lead to heart disease, the appearance of goiters, pregnancy complications and other health issues.

5. Watch your stomach for signs of Ovarian cancer 

Bloating in your stomach area can have a range of different causes, including menstruation, intolerance to dairy products, eating too fast, constipation, medical side-effects, and a typically common assumption - weight gain. However, did you know this could also be the cause of very serious health conditions? Ovarian cancer is one of them, and its symptoms also include nausea and persistent pain or cramps in the stomach or back. Speak to a doctor if you experience these in a severe way so you can treat it in its early stages. Reduce general stomach bloating by eating more slowly, consuming less carbonated drinks, and avoiding chewing gum and drinking through straws.

6. Check your breathing by doing some step-ups 

Have you been feeling more tired than usual after climbing up a flight of stairs? This can also be directly connected to your health. Doing some exercise can both act as a test for yourself and also as a practice. Step-ups are mostly recommended because they elevate the heart rate and hence our breathing. For this exercise, you must find a relatively high step (not higher than your hips) and step up and down. Try doing 70 of these in three minutes and then put your fingers on your pulse to check it. If it’s over 100 and you’re still out of breath 10 minutes after the exercise, then you need to consider exercising more frequently. Lack of exercise can lead to serious diseases such as obesity, breast cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even early death. 

 

7. Calculate the time you spend sitting down daily 

As we become more technology-dependent, we are adopting more of a sedentary lifestyle. According to the US Women’s Health Study, women over 50 who sit for 11 hours a day reduce their life expectancy by 9 years! The consequences for a sedentary lifestyle can be very serious, including deep vein thrombosis, colon cancer, osteoporosis, kidney stones and a Spinal disc herniation (slipped disc). Improve your lifestyle by adding regular physical activity to your routine, at least 2.5 hours a week. 

 

8. Look out for temperature changes in your body 

Care for your blood vessels' health and circulation by observing the temperature changes in your body, especially in extreme temperature conditions. Excess heat from the sun, stress, and eating very spicy food may cause flushing in the face – particularly redness in the cheeks and nose. This means that the blood vessels are dilating and this may not be a healthy sign, especially if you are a woman between 30 and 55. Cold conditions can be just as dangerous to our body if we aren’t prepared for them – frequently experiencing cold feet or hands indicates lack of circulation, which could lead to Raynaud’s disease (suffering from excessively reduced blood flow). So, make sure to take the necessary precautions before this becomes a risk!

9. Inspect your nipples for signs of breast cancer  

A well-known pointer that calls for a professional body check-up is having abnormalities in your nipples. Be on the look-out for inward-facing nipples as this could be a typical sign of breast cancer. If your nipples show any eczema, discharge or bloodstains, take action. Make sure to look out for these signs regularly when showering and find time to do regular exercise, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, and drink less alcohol to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. 

 

10. Examine your nails to look out for fungal infections 

It is rather easy for toenails to get an infection and one of the obvious symptoms of this event is when the nail becomes discolored, thickens, or becomes brittle, causing discomfort in your feet. Keep your feet safe from this by checking them regularly, keeping them clean and dry from excess sweat due to the heat, using shoes that are just right for your feet and not too old, not trimming or picking the skin around the toenails, and avoid walking barefoot in public places. If you do suffer from an infected toenail, seek medical assistance and use antifungal spray or powder to treat it.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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