Almost every person from time to time is faced with such a condition when the body becomes numb during sleep. The reasons are different, from squeezing blood vessels or nerve endings due to prolonged stay in one position to serious health problems. In this case, both a separate part and the whole body can flow. Why is this happening and can we get rid of it?

Numbness of the whole body: sleep paralysis

Sleep paralysis is a strange, poorly understood and frightening condition for many people, when the muscles are completely relaxed – “asleep” – and the brain and consciousness are active. This phenomenon is observed at the moment of falling asleep or waking up. Nocturnal paralysis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• the body refuses to obey consciousness;
• it is impossible to move or say something;
• it becomes difficult to breathe, the pulse quickens;
• the sounds of footsteps, whispers are heard, shadows, silhouettes and faces of people are seen;
• there is a feeling that something is piling on, pressing on the chest;
• the dreamer is seized with terror.

Some prefer to blame everything on otherworldly forces, but doctors have an explanation for this phenomenon.

The body can become stiff when sleep phases are disturbed. When the brain has managed to enter the REM sleep phase or is already awake, and the body is still in the slow phase, complete numbness occurs – sleep paralysis. The main reasons for this are disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and neurological abnormalities of a degenerative nature, such as Parkinson’s disease. However, in almost half of cases, this condition occurs in people who abuse alcohol or take antidepressants.

INTERESTING FACTS!

• Most often, nocturnal paralysis occurs in those who sleep on their backs.
• The hallucinations that a person experiences during a paralysis attack are usually very frightening. The sleeper is sure that they are trying to harm him. It is believed that this negative nature of hallucinations is associated with suffocation.
• It is believed that Heinrich Füssli painted a series of paintings “Nightmare” under the impression of sleep paralysis. This phenomenon is personified by a demon who invariably sits on the sleeping woman’s chest on all canvases.
• In 2005, the staff of the US National Library of Medicine, investigating such paralysis, found that it took place in situations where people were sure that they were abducted by aliens.

Nocturnal paralysis itself is not a health hazard and no special treatment is required. The key is to stick to your daily routine and avoid stress. But if the attacks recur too often, you need to see a doctor.

Advice. During an episode of paralysis, you should not try to do something, fight the numbness, otherwise the stiffness can only increase. If in the process there is a feeling of heaviness in the chest or abdomen, suffocation, you need to try to transfer attention to the fingers or toes, try to move them. Sometimes it helps to overcome stiffness, “wake up” the body.

Numbness of certain parts of the body: how it manifests

Most often, limbs go numb at night – arms or legs. In some cases, other parts of the body may also swell – the head, right or left side. In the affected area, there is a loss of sensitivity, there is a feeling of “goose bumps” or soreness. Such symptoms can indicate certain medical conditions.

If the limbs become numb due to squeezing of a vessel or nerve, then after changing the position of the body, the condition will return to normal. But when a change in posture, rubbing and other manipulations do not lead to the disappearance of numbness or other symptoms join this condition, then you need to consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination.

Possible reasons

Sometimes a side, face, hand or leg numb in a dream can signal the development of certain diseases:

1. Osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia and the resulting radicular syndrome are the most common causes of this condition. In this case, most often part of the hand, individual fingers, becomes numb.
2. Polyneuropathy occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus when high glucose levels damage the nerves or blood vessels in the hands and feet.
3. Stroke is the most dangerous cause of numbness when there is damage to certain parts of the brain responsible for the sensitivity of a particular area of ​​the body. In such cases, only one side becomes numb – the right or left, including half of the face.
4. The presence of a neoplasm in the brain, which begins to squeeze the brain tissue, disrupting its functioning. This condition is also characterized by unilateral numbness of the body. The same applies to tumors in the spine.
5. Multiple sclerosis, in which nerve tissue begins to be replaced by connective tissue, which causes impaired sensitivity and control over certain parts of the body.
6. Raynaud’s Syndrome. It is characterized by spasm and damage to blood vessels, resulting in numbness, pain and even blue fingers.
7. Tunnel syndrome is a lesion of the carpal or ulnar nerve. It can be recognized by the sensations in specific fingers. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the middle and thumb, and sometimes the entire hand, go numb. Elbow tunnel syndrome is characterized by loss of sensitivity in the ring finger and little finger, a feeling of weakness in the hand.
8. Rheumatoid arthritis. This disease affects the joints. At night, the patient is worried about the feeling of squeezing and numbness of the hands, a burning sensation.
9. Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the legs. Due to damage to the arteries of the lower extremities, blood circulation is impaired in them. With this disease, the feet become numb, a feeling of cold appears in them. Most often, one leg suffers. Men over 50 are more susceptible to atherosclerosis.

Another reason for paralysis of the body during sleep is a lack of certain trace elements, in particular vitamins B12, B9 and B6, calcium, magnesium, iron.

Treatment

If, after falling asleep, a person regularly encounters a state of numbness, you should consult a doctor. To find out the reason, a comprehensive examination of the body is carried out, including:

• blood test;
• Ultrasound;
• computed tomography;
• x-ray;
• consultations with narrow specialists.

Treatment is selected individually for each patient. Therapy may involve more than just taking medications. In some cases, physiotherapy, massage, manual and reflexology, exercise therapy will be effective.

If the problem lies in a specific medical condition, the patient is given treatment based on the root cause that is interfering with sleep at night.

Prophylaxis

In order for the sleep to be full, and, falling asleep in the evening, not to worry that you will have to wake up from unpleasant sensations again, you need to adhere to some rules:

1. Lead a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits.
2. Play sports and walk more often in the fresh air.
3. Observe the mode of work and rest.
4. Monitor nutrition.
5. Avoid stressful situations.
6. Avoid hypothermia of the body.
7. Conduct timely treatment of any disease.

Numbness of the body during sleep during pregnancy

Separately, it is worth considering the case when the body becomes numb in a pregnant woman. Due to lack of sleep caused by unpleasant sensations, she will be tormented by weakness and dizzy all day. In addition to the general reasons for this condition during pregnancy, the limbs may become numb due to edema, high weight gain, low physical activity, or a deficiency of certain trace elements.

To prevent this, a woman needs:

1. Control loads and reduce the time spent at the computer.
2. Limit the amount of fluid you drink to avoid swelling.
3. Eat right, providing yourself with a complete diet.
4. Take vitamin and mineral complexes recommended by your doctor.
5. Carry out the prevention of colds, and in the presence of any chronic pathologies, cure them even at the stage of pregnancy planning.
6. Take walks in the fresh air and do gymnastics more often.

To get rid of the discomfort at night, it is important to find out the cause of this condition. If you cannot do this on your own, you need to seek medical help.

Dear Readers! If you have experienced complete or partial numbness of the body, write about your experience in the comments. What remedies have you used to combat this condition, and what really helped?