In addition to keeping you awake, CBS News reports that caffeine has many additional health benefits. Specifically, caffeine is rich in antioxidants that neutralize free radical associated with Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. Although beneficial in moderation, excessive caffeine intake may cause anxiety, restlessness, fast heartbeat or muscle tremors. In addition, caffeine may worsen or aggravate certain conditions that cause numbness and tingling in the hands, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Be sure to ask your doctor if caffeine intake is affecting your numbness and tingling symptoms.
Common Causes of Hand Tingling
Many diseases and medications can contribute to the symptoms of numbness and tingling in the hands. According to Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of Health, an injured nerve in the spine, arm or hand may cause tingling; other causes of tingling include poor blood flow, nerve pressure, diabetes, migraines, seizures, multiple sclerosis, underactive thyroid, vitamin deficiency and certain medications. However, if you are experiencing tingling in only your hands and have no other associated symptoms, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome. Be sure to have your doctor perform the proper tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist that leads to symptoms of numbness and tingling. Specifically, swelling around the tendons that move from your arm to your wrist through the carpal tunnel may become inflamed and affect the median nerve. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography are used to make a diagnosis. Women are two to five times more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome than men.
Caffeine and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Caffeine may increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, states The University of Maryland Medical Center. Specifically, a high caffeine intake can quicken the onset and worsen the tingling in the hands associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. A study published in the March 1996 issue of the Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine found that those who used caffeine alone or combined caffeine with tobacco use were at the highest risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Recommendations
While many different disorders may cause tingling in the hands, carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the few syndromes that only causes localized tingling in the hands. In addition to other risk factors, high caffeine intake is associated with an increased risk for developing tingling in the hands. Therefore, if you are experiencing this symptom, you may need to reduce your intake to see if symptoms improve. Always consult your doctor if you are experience abnormal symptoms in your hands.
References
- Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine; "Tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, and carpal tunnel syndrome in American industry. A cross-sectional study of 1464 workers"; P. Nathan et al., March 1996
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Medline Plus: Numbness and Tingling
- CBS News; "New clues on caffeine's health benefits;" May 2011
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