5 Health Issues That Can Cause Numbness

Consider Numbness as a Warning Sign  

 

Numbness is usually associated with the feet, but it can happen to any part of the body. It’s uncomfortable, annoying, and can be a sign of a larger medical concern. If you’re experiencing any degree of numbness over any length of time, it’s a good idea to take it seriously, and plan a visit to your doctor.

Numbness refers to the partial or complete loss of sensation. People with numbness may be unable to feel light touch, pain, temperature, or vibration or know where parts of their body are, because they can’t feel them. When people do not know where parts of their body are, they have problems with balance, coordination, and walking, as you’d suspect.

Foot numbness usually arises from a lack of blood supply to an area or nerve damage and can be a sign of a wide variety of diseases, disorders, or conditions that restrict blood flow, or cause injury to the nerves. Temporary, minor foot numbness can occur after prolonged pressure on a nerve or nerves, such as after wearing tight-fitting shoes, or sitting with your legs crossed.

 

5 Common Causes

In some cases, numbness is a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be evaluated as soon as possible in an emergency setting. The following are a few health issues that can cause numbness.

 

1.    B12 deficiency
A lack of vitamin B12 can cause numb sensations in the arms and legs, as well as loss of balance and weakness. B12 is naturally found in animal products and other high-protein foods. However, older adults and those with intestinal disorders may have more difficulty absorbing the vitamin. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, B12 deficiency affects between 1.5 percent and 15 percent of the general population.

 

2.    Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which high blood sugar levels and decreased blood flow can damage nerves. This can lead to the loss of feeling in your arms and legs as well as other symptoms, such as tingling or burning in the arms and legs, a fast heart rate, sweating too much, and sexual problems. Keep your blood sugar within a healthy range and visit your doctor regularly to prevent nerve damage or making symptoms more severe.

 

3.    Peripheral artery disease
Peripheral artery disease is a condition that leads to narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet. This can lead to decreased blood flow that injures nerves and other tissues. Symptoms usually appear during walking or exercise and include achiness, fatigue, burning or discomfort in the muscles of your feet, calves, or thighs numbness in the legs or feet.

 

4.    Injury to a nerve
A neck injury may cause numbness anywhere along the arm or hand, while a low back injury can cause numbness or tingling down the back of the leg. Pressure on the nerves of the spine, such as from a herniated disk, can also also cause numbness.

 

5.    Stroke
The symptoms of stroke depend on what part of the brain is damaged. In some cases, a person may not know that he or she has had a stroke. Symptoms usually develop suddenly and without warning, but they may also occur on and off for the first day or two. Symptoms include muscle weakness in the face, arm, or leg (usually on just one side of the body) and numbness or tingling on one side of the body.

 

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and can find no obvious cause, such as simply your foot “falling asleep,” be sure to consult a medical professional to rule out the possibility of a more serious, underlying problem.

 

BLOG Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen