Do you experience numbness in your hands when you sleep? Is it making it hard for you to get an adequate amount of rest each night? It could be a sign of a medical issue.
In this article, we will discuss what causes numbness in hands, how you can address it to find some relief, and how the SONU Sleep System mattress can help with this and how you sleep.
Will My Arm "Fall Asleep" In The Comfort Channel?
Contrary to what some might believe, the Comfort Channel is not conducive to numbness or tingling in your arm. When a body part “falls asleep”, as the saying goes, it is due to lack of circulation, or not enough blood reaching the body part. When your arm starts to tingle or loses feeling it is caused by a position you are in that is cutting off this necessary circulation that supplies oxygen to the nerves that run between your neck and your arm.
Nerves have their own blood supply, so pressure on a nerve cuts off that blood supply and the nerve becomes starved for oxygen and shuts down. This happens often on traditional flat mattresses as you are forced to overextend your shoulders and arms into positions in which they are not meant to rest, which can cut off this circulation. While side sleeping on a flat mattress you are forced to apply unavoidable pressure on these body parts which results in the discomfort and lack of circulation that can cause this numbness. The SONU Sleep System’s patented Comfort Channel design helps to greatly relieve these pressures on your arms, and with this relief comes improved circulation and reduced chances of numbness.
Some may look at the SONU design and believe that because your arms are below the rest of your body, you may have an increased risk of circulation issues or numbness. This is a common misconception, but is not the case - here’s why. Your arms are naturally below your heart when you are upright, walking or sitting, throughout the day. Your arms never tingle in this position because they are receiving the correct amount of circulation. The Comfort Channel enables your arms to also rest below your heart, as if you were upright, resulting in your arms receiving the correct amount of circulation – which actually reduces the chances of circulation issues or numbness, compared to flat mattresses.
SONU designed the Comfort Channel system with all of this in mind. You will be impressed at the elevated level of comfort and truly deep sleep you will enjoy on your SONU, enabled in part by the improvement in circulation your body will experience.
For more information about the causes of circulation issues and numbness while sleeping, you may visit the Sleep Foundation’s website.
What Is The Anatomy of The Hand?
Our hands are complex.
They’re made up of muscles, tendons, nerves, and other bones that all have jobs that help our hands function. Our hands are some of our most delicate body parts that can be easily injured by simple accidents and overuse. Like the rest of our bodies, the hands are controlled by the brain.
Below, we’ll highlight well-known parts of the hands.
Bones
There are 27 bones in the human hand. These bones are divided into three categories:
- Phalanges, aka the finger bones.
- Metacarpal bones, which make up the middle of the hand.
- Carpal bones, aka the wrist bones.
Each group of bones has a different function, and each group is essential to the overall proper functioning of our hands.
Joints
The wrist is actually a two-part joint below the hand. Other joints in the hand include:
- Proximal interphalangeal joint
- Metacarpophalangeal joint
Muscles
Our hands have 30 muscles in each of them. These muscles are mostly connected to those in the forearms. Hands also have short muscles in them that lie between the metacarpal bones. These short muscles help us point, bend, and stretch our fingers.
Nerves
The nerves are most relevant to numbness in the hands. There are three primary nerves in the hand:
- Ulnar nerve, which operates the muscles in the metacarpus.
- Median nerve, which is responsible for sensations in the ring finger, middle finger, index finger, palm, and thumb.
- Radial nerve, which controls the hand and wrist’s ability to extend.
Our hands consist of “17,000 touch receptors and free nerve endings in the palm.” These receptors and nerves sense movement and pressure.
What Causes Numbness In Hands?
Numbness in the hands is a condition known as paresthesia. People often describe it as feeling like their hands went to sleep. This numbness is often caused by nerve compression or nerve damage in the hands.
People may experience numbness in their hands while sleeping on them, repeatedly conducting the same movement with them, or keeping them in the same position for a long time. In other instances, it may be caused by an underlying medical issue.
Numbness in the hands can be a cause for concern if you think you have a medical issue. Several medical conditions include paresthesia as a symptom — let’s take a look at the most widely known.
Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that disrupts the way your body processes glucose. This can result in an excess of sugar in your blood. Type 2 diabetes is irreversible. Diabetics often suffer from poor circulation, which can lead to numb or tingling hands or feet.
Other symptoms of diabetes include:
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Wounds healing slowly
- Dehydration
- Frequent urination
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel may occur when the median nerve in an opening in your wrist, called the carpal tunnel, is compressed. This unique opening sits on top of the wrist and consists of the carpal ligament and carpal bones. When the median nerve is compressed, it can cause numbness in the hand.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel include:
- Tingling or burning sensation in the fingers
- Weak grip
- Swollen fingers
- Hand pain
Raynaud’s Syndrome
During Raynaud’s syndrome, fingers and toes can go numb due to stress or low temperatures. This happens when arteries that deliver blood flow to your skin become narrow. This decrease in blood flow is known as vasospasm.
Symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome include:
- Areas of skin turning blue or white
- Cold fingers and toes
- Stinging pain when warming up
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is an illness in which an inadequate amount of the thyroid hormone reaches your bloodstream. As a result, you may experience lower energy, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold weather. You may also experience numbness in the hands.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Dry skin and hair
- Brain fog
- Drooping eyelids
Stroke
A reduced supply of blood flowing to the brain can cause a stroke. Strokes can cause numbness in different parts of the body, from head to toe. However, this paralysis usually only occurs on one side.
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Inability to speak
- Trouble walking
- Difficulty communicating
These are the most common medical issues that experience numbness in the hands as a symptom. Additional conditions that may involve numbness in the hands include herpes, herniated disks, migraine headaches, vitamin B12 deficiency, or insect bites.
How Can I Treat Numbness In Hands?
If you experience any symptoms of the conditions above, you should immediately consult your doctor. If you are only experiencing hand numbness and no other symptoms, you may be able to treat yourself at home. However, if your hand numbness lasts for an extended period, you should seek medical attention.
To address your hand numbness, you can try some of the following options.
Hand Strengthening Exercises
Hand exercises can both strengthen your hands and increase flexibility. You can easily use them to “wake up” your numb hands by making and releasing a fist, gripping and squeezing a small object like a ball, or stretching each finger and your wrists.
Wrist Braces or Splints
Many people dealing with hand numbness opt to wear a brace or splint to address the underlying cause. Splints are especially popular with carpal tunnel patients. These braces/splints hold your hand and wrist steady and protect them from muscle weakness.
If your doctor determines that your hand numbness is the result of an injury, like a pinched nerve or ulnar nerve compression, they may recommend physical therapy or over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to address any discomfort you may be experiencing.
New Mattress and Pillows
If you constantly experience numbness in your hands while sleeping, changing your mattress and pillows can help you. Switching to the SONU Sleep System can help alleviate and prevent hand numbness by providing you with a negative space mattress that features a patented Comfort Channel that you can immerse your arms and hands into while sleeping.
The mattress comes with support pillows that elevate your head and align your spine while sleeping. This takes the pressure off of your shoulders, arms, and hands as you sleep, leaving you with the soft, cool feeling of multi-layered, high-resilience foams and a layer of plush serene foam.
You can also try changing your sleeping posture, which can contribute to a tingling sensation in the hands.
Conclusion
Numbness in the hands can make it difficult to get a good night’s rest, and there are many possible causes for this symptom.
If you are experiencing numbness in your hands, you should first make a note of other symptoms you are having because they could signal a much larger health condition. If you suspect your numbness may result from a medical issue, you should consult a doctor.
If you do not have any other symptoms, you can try to cure your numbness with some of the suggestions in this article. If your discomfort persists, seek medical assistance.
If your hand numbness is due to your sleep position, such as sleeping on your side, investing in the SONU Sleep System will help you very much. This system consists of the SONU negative space mattress with the patented Comfort Channel that you can put your hands into while you sleep, providing you with pressure relief, cooling comfort and spinal alignment.
Treat yourself to the pain-free comfort of a SONU mattress. You will not be disappointed.
FAQ
What causes numbness in hands?
Numbness in the hands can be caused by sleeping on your arms or hands, overuse, or an underlying condition. If you think you have an underlying condition, you need to consult with your primary care physician.
Is numbness in hands permanent?
No. You can treat many cases of mild numbness in the hands with strength exercises, rest, or wearing a brace. Your doctor might also have some suggestions for additional treatment.
Can the SONU mattress really help with numbness in the hands?
Yes! SONU designed its mattresses to help people who suffer from various types of body discomfort. Sleeping with your shoulders, arms, and hands submerged into the mattress under SONU’s Support Pillows can take the pressure off these areas of your body and help prevent them from falling asleep.
Sources:
Diabetes - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Raynaud's disease - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
Hypothyroidism: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Medication | Cleveland Clinic
Stroke - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
Numbness in Hands: Causes, Tests & Diagnosis | Cleveland Clinic
Carpal tunnel syndrome: Wrist splints and hand exercises - InformedHealth.org | NCBI Bookshelf
