What causes numbness in the hands?
Many people feel numbness in their hands at some point in their lives. It can be a disturbing sensation, because most of us are aware that such numbness can be, at worst, a sign of serious or even life-threatening illness, such as a stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic. Along with numbness, one or both hands can experience a burning or tingling sensation or a sharp pain. In addition to being caused by a variety of medical conditions, numbness can be occupational (for instance, the result of a repetitive motion injury or carpal tunnel syndrome), a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation treatments, or related to alcoholism and tobacco use. Sedentary behavior or long periods of standing or sitting can produce numbness, and it can also be triggered by migraines or seizures, according to the National Institutes of Health. Attempts at home diagnosis are of very limited use because there is no way to know the cause of numbness without consulting a doctor. Even then, the diagnosis may not be
