Numbness felt in the body is an abnormal sign and it is important to find out the exact cause for this right away. Numbness is often felt in the feet, legs, arms, and as you mentioned, the fingers and the hands. A number of causes could give rise to numbness in the body and the most common of these are standing or sitting in the same position for a long time. Because of an uncomfortable posture while sitting or standing, the supply of blood to the various parts of the body is not as it should be, causing a temporary deadening of the nerve endings or numbness in the respective part. The pinching of a nerve can also cause temporary numbness and feeling will be restored with an alteration of position.
As you age, the pressure exerted on the nerves of the body is far greater, causing them to get pinched frequently, so older people are liable to experience numbness more frequently than younger people. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by an inflammation of tendons in the wrist, which pinch the nerves and reduce the supply of blood to the fingers, causing numbness. Although numbness in parts of the body causes no harm, a sudden numbness is a sign of a more complex problem. Numbness in the left hand could possibly be the warning signs of a stroke or cardiac complications, and should be checked by a medical practitioner without further delay.
There are various methods to reduce numbness in the body. A little light exercise done daily will help in improving the circulation of blood in the body and will also help to increase flexibility in your legs and hands. Keep in mind that the form of exercise should be light and should not cause a strain on other parts of the body which could aggravate your problem of numbness. People who do a lot of work with their wrists should give themselves time for relaxation so that carpal tunnel syndrome is avoided. In case you have a tendency to smoke, you should consider giving it up because it hampers the circulation of blood, which will lead to numbness in the body. While sleeping on your side, place your hand in a comfortable position so that the weight of the body does not exert pressure on it, hampering the flow of blood. However, as your symptoms are not clearly expressive of your possible condition, it is important that you seek professional medical advice immediately.