Ben Reihanian S2B6 - Why do Limbs Fall Asleep?

Why do Limbs Fall Asleep?



What is it that puts your arms, legs, and feet to sleep? You rise from your chair, and all you feel from one foot is a strange, unpleasant tingling. It feels dead... or maybe asleep? Alternatively, you may wake up in the middle of the night unable to move your arm whatsoever. It's simply limp in the position you fell asleep in. This weird pins and needles sensation intensifies as your limbs awaken. So, what exactly is going on here?

This discomfort usually occurs after you've exerted pressure on a portion of your body. For example, sitting on one's foot, sleeping on one's arm, or anything of the like. The pressure compresses the neural pathways, preventing the neurons from correctly transmitting electrical impulses. These nerve impulses transport sensory data from your body's nerve endings to your brain and also transmit directives from your mind to other regions of your body. Excessive pressure can also constrict arteries, preventing nutrients from accessing the cells in your body. This is critical since nerve cells could act erratically if lacking these nutrients. The information conveyed from the limb becomes confused as a response to both of these circumstances.

The nerve impulses begin to flow properly again after you move your foot, stretch your legs, or shake off your arm. Nevertheless, you do not instantly recover sensation. Before the nerves send these impulses properly again, there is a moment of readjustment lag. Consequently, the tingling amplifies, exacerbating the characteristic pins and needles sensations. Before your limb settles down, the tingling could be followed by a more unpleasant burning feeling. 

Your body's nerves are made up of distinct, lengthy nerve cells that transmit diverse types of signals. Many of these nerve fibers are often surrounded by other tissues. Because certain fibers have thicker insulation around them, it takes them longer after they've been squeezed to start transmitting impulses effectively. Furthermore, because the fibers that send pain and temperature information are quite thin, you will notice a tingling sensation relatively swiftly. While motor control fibers are smaller than touch information fibers, you can move the body part before regaining total feeling in it. As a result, all of your nerve fibers will gradually return to normal.

The pins and needles sensation is termed “paresthesia”.  When’s the last time you experienced paresthesia?


Comments

  1. AnonymousMar 2, 2022, 10:42:00 AM

    I experience paresthesia all the time. It is interesting to learn about how it happens, though. Maybe I can prevent it more now or get rid of it quicker if I know how it starts and why.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMar 2, 2022, 11:38:00 AM

    It varies. The worst is when I sleep on my arm and I feel like I can not move it and it is terrible. If I had to guess how often it happens maybe once every two to three weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMar 7, 2022, 1:50:00 PM

    This is a very interesting topic to me. I have always wondered we we get this feeling since I fist got it when I was a very young toddler. There are many things that fascinate me about the human body, and most of these things have a purpose, so it's interesting to learn about!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 11, 2022, 7:22:00 AM

    To be honest, I cannot really remember the exact last time I experienced paresthesia, but I know for a fact that it could not have been too long ago because this always happens to me. Sometimes I wake up and my entire arm is just completely asleep. It is such a strange feeling, but most of the time it goes away quickly.

    ReplyDelete

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