Going on a specific diet is one way that you can lose weight, or maintain your current weight and make a healthy lifestyle change. Dieting may involve consuming less food or a different kind of food that your body may not be used to. If you begin to notice any type of numbness in your body, especially your hands, you should seek medical attention to rule out any serious medical problem.
Symptoms
Numbness is defined as being an abnormal sensation or tingling somewhere in your body. When one part of your body, such as your hands, feels differently than other areas, you may be experiencing numbness. Numbness may feel uncomfortable and, in some cases, painful if you are unable to feel fully with your hands. The loss of sensation feeling in your hands can make everyday tasks challenging. If you are exercising in addition to dieting, you may not be able to engage fully in each range of motion, due to the numbness sensation.
Causes
If you are dieting, one of the main causes of numbness in your hands could be from not getting enough nutrients. Lack of food intake from self-induced weight loss is often referred to as anorexia. With anorexia, your body is not getting the proper nutrients in order to function and remain healthy. Not getting the right foods as part of your diet, can also lead to sensations of numbness or tingling in your hands. If you are dieting and minimizing your intake of protein from meat, you could feel lightheaded and tingling and numbness in your hands. The numbness could be caused from a lack of iron in your bloodstream. Iron is used to carry oxygen in the blood and low oxygen and iron levels can cause weakness and numbness. A sudden drop in blood pressure or blood sugar may also lead to numbness in your hands.
Solution
Making sure you are following a healthy diet may prevent the numbness from reoccurring. Foods from all of the food groups including vegetables, fruits, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy can help your body stay healthy while you lose weight. Vegetables and fruit provide potassium and important vitamins to help keep blood pressure levels healthy and reduce your risk of diabetes. Proteins provide iron, magnesium and help keep bones strong. Low-fat dairy can give your diet a sugar boost to help prevent feelings of dizziness and numbness.
Precaution
If numbness in your hands lasts longer than a few days, you should consult with your doctor. Numbness can also be a sign of a serious medical condition such as a stroke. Symptoms of a stroke include numbness, weakness, dizziness, loss of balance, confusion, severe headache and slurred speech. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 for emergency help.
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