Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWhen To Seek Medical CareDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
When To Seek Medical Care
Diagnosis
Treatment
Tingling in the hands is a common symptom of several health conditions. The cause of the tingling may be easily remedied or could be a sign of a more serious problem.
You should get medical care right away if you also have severe symptoms like dizziness, confusion, paralysis, or numbness in other parts of the body.
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Tingling in the hands is a “pins-and-needles” sensation that can come with numbness in the hands or fingers.
When and how the tingling starts and how long it continues depends on what’s causing it.
Causes of Tingling in Hands
Tingling in hands is a common symptom of several medical conditions. Tingling can have common or more serious causes. Sometimes, the sensation is only temporary and not cause for concern.
For example, if blood flow is cut off—such as when you fall asleep on your hand—you may feel tingling and numbness that gets better once the blood flow is restored. Exposure to cold can produce a tingling and/or burning effect, which fades once you warm up.
However, if tingling or numbness in the hands happens often or is not going away, there could be a medical cause. The most common conditions associated with hand tingling include:
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Tingling in the Hands as a Side Effect of Medication
Tingling in the hands can be a side effect of some medications.
Some drugs or combinations of drugs can lead to nerve damage (neuropathy). If the damaged nerve supplies the wrist or hand, it could cause tingling in the hand.
Examples of medications and substances that can cause neuropathy include:
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When to Seek Medical Attention for Tingling in the Hands
If you are having tingling in your hands and don’t know why, consider whether the tingling is a one-off bout that goes away quickly. If the problem is temporary, it’s probably not something to worry about.
On the other hand, if the tingling is not getting better or it’s happening often, you should talk to your healthcare provider.
Tingling in Hands: When To Call 911There are times when tingling in your hands could be a sign of a serious health problem, like a heart attack or stroke.If you are having hand tingling along with these symptoms, get medical attention right away:Numbness in other parts of your bodyParalysisDizzinessConfusionSlurred speech
Tingling in Hands: When To Call 911
There are times when tingling in your hands could be a sign of a serious health problem, like a heart attack or stroke.If you are having hand tingling along with these symptoms, get medical attention right away:Numbness in other parts of your bodyParalysisDizzinessConfusionSlurred speech
There are times when tingling in your hands could be a sign of a serious health problem, like a heart attack or stroke.
If you are having hand tingling along with these symptoms, get medical attention right away:
Since tingling in the hands is a common symptom of multiple medical conditions, different courses of action and tests might be needed to figure out the cause and establish a treatment plan.
Diagnostic procedures may include:
How Tingling in The Hands Is Treated
Treatment for tingling in the hands depends on the underlying cause. Rather than treating the tingling or numbness directly, a healthcare provider will first try to identify why it’s happening.
Depending on the underlying cause of the tingling in your hands, treatment may include medication or specific therapies for the condition.
Summary
Tingling in the hands is a common symptom of several medical conditions, especially those that affect the nerves, like diabetes and autoimmune disorders. Medications can also cause tingling in the hands as a side effect.
When the tingling only happens once in a while and gets better fast, it’s probably not a reason to worry. If the tingling recurs or does not subside, consult your healthcare provider.
Tingling in the hands with other symptoms like paralysis or slurred speech should be treated as a medical emergency.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Numbness and tingling.Genova A, Dix O, Saefan A, Thakur M, Hassan A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: A review of literature. Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7333.Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky and harmful.MedlinePlus.Neuropathy secondary to drugs.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hand pain and problems.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Numbness and tingling.Genova A, Dix O, Saefan A, Thakur M, Hassan A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: A review of literature. Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7333.Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky and harmful.MedlinePlus.Neuropathy secondary to drugs.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hand pain and problems.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Numbness and tingling.Genova A, Dix O, Saefan A, Thakur M, Hassan A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: A review of literature. Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7333.Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky and harmful.MedlinePlus.Neuropathy secondary to drugs.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hand pain and problems.
MedlinePlus.Numbness and tingling.
Genova A, Dix O, Saefan A, Thakur M, Hassan A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: A review of literature. Cureus. 2020;12(3):e7333.
Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky and harmful.
MedlinePlus.Neuropathy secondary to drugs.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hand pain and problems.
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