# why does my hand fall asleep?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-hand-fall-asleep/351199>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 4, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-hand-fall-asleep/351199 "2006-04-04T04:27:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panahead\_comcast.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@panahead\_comcast.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panahead_comcast.net)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-hand-fall-asleep/351199/1 "2006-04-04T04:27:19Z")

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what is the cause of the tingle when my hand falls asleep? is it purely lack of blood? nerves? both? does anyone know of any articles explaining the condition?  
thanks,  
panahead

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-hand-fall-asleep/351199/2 "2006-04-04T05:47:43Z")

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> [@panahead@comcast.net](#):
>
> what is the cause of the tingle when my hand falls asleep? is it purely lack of blood? nerves? both? does anyone know of any articles explaining the condition?  
> thanks,  
> panahead

Contrary to what many people think, as well as to expressions like, “the circulation to my hand was cut off - it went all pins and needles”, the usual cause of a limb ‘falling asleep’ is from pressure on the nerve.

Anyone’s hand will fall asleep if you put it in a position that squashes the nerves (such as bent tightly at the wrist, especially with a weight such as your body pressing on it).

If a person finds that this is happening especially frequently, or spontaneously, or is associated with other symptoms such as persistent weakness or numbness, it could be a sign of so-called _neuropathy_.

A very common neuropathy is ‘carpal tunnel syndrome’ which is a prototypical example of what’s called a compression neuropathy (i.e. where the nerve is getting squished). You may find [this site](http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm#51803049) on carpal tunnel syndrome, from a most reputable source, of some interest.

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**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-hand-fall-asleep/351199/3 "2006-04-04T08:07:17Z")

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Does this mean that there is no problem with the blood flow at all in those situations?