Shake It Out!
Have you ever left your legs crossed too long or leaned on your arm for a little longer than you thought? Did you get that sensation of pins and needles sticking you in your arm or leg? Instead of shaking your limbs, you may want to shake your head!
The medical term for the numbness or tingling feeling is paresthesia and it is caused by constriction of the nerves that pass through the neck area. Studies show moving your neck around can relieve pressure on nerves and bring your dead limb back to life! Whether this happens when you are asleep or while you are sitting for an extended period, loosening the muscles in your neck by nodding your head front to back and left and right can relieve the compression and bring your limb back to life in a few minutes.
This hack can also apply to long car drives! Hands tend to fall asleep when you are driving due to their positioning on the wheel. This usually happens when you are driving with a tight seat belt, if you are gripping the steering wheel too hard, or if a shirt sleeve is cutting off circulation. These factors compress the nerves in your neck and/or arm which leads to the numbing sensation we have all experienced.
If you have tried this hack, a few hours have passed and your numbness hasn’t gone away, stop by the nearest Healthcare Express. It could be an indication that something more serious is happening!
