Health
Ask a doc: 'Why are my fingers tingling and what can I do to stop it?'
Tingling fingers can be uncomfortable and somewhat of a nuisance, especially if this interferes with your daily activities or interrupts your sleep.
Individuals describe tingling as a “pins and needles” sensation, similar to when fingers fall asleep after leaning on an elbow too long, Kerry Levin, M.D., chair of the department of neurology at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, told Fox News Digital.
Here’s a deeper dive.
What are some causes of the condition?
There are many possible causes of tingling fingers.
In some cases, the condition can stem from an isolated incident.
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“It can occur with anxiety or leaning on a body part too long,” said Levin, who is also a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.
“These symptoms go away by themselves when the trigger goes away.”
Tingling fingers can be uncomfortable and somewhat of a nuisance, especially if this interferes with your daily activities or interrupts sleep. (iStock)
Beyond an isolated occurrence, the most common neurological causes are carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve compression at the elbow, or a pinched nerve in the neck, according to the doctor.
When a nerve is compressed or damaged, it interrupts signals along the nerve from the skin up to the brain.
Those signals can then register as pain or uncomfortable sensations, according to Levin.
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The most common cause of tingling fingers is usually carpal tunnel, according to Jesus Lizarzaburu, M.D., a family physician at TPMG Grafton Family Medicine in Yorktown, Virginia.
“Doing something repetitive with your wrists and hands can lead to inflammation of the nerve through the carpal tunnel, which is a fixed space in that specific area,” he told Fox News Digital.
“As the nerve swells, the pressure on the nerve itself increases, which makes the tingling worse.”
When a nerve is compressed or damaged, it interrupts signals along the nerve from the skin up to the brain. Those signals can then register as pain or uncomfortable sensations. (iStock)
Additional medical reasons can also cause tingling fingers.
The condition can result from poorly controlled diabetes, which may cause damage to the nerves and lead to a condition called diabetic neuropathy, noted Lizarzaburu.
This usually affects the feet first and the hands later.
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Another potential cause is deficiency in vitamins B12, B6 or E, which can affect nerve function and cause tingling, the doctor said.
Infection or inflammation in conditions such as Lyme disease, shingles or inflammation of the nerves (neuritis) can also be culprits.
Treatments to alleviate tingling
There are some measures you can take to manage the tingling in your fingers, according to experts.
One is to pay attention to the motions that led to the tingling and try to avoid the triggering event.
Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active can also help, Lizarzaburu said.
Once a diagnosis is made, there may be treatment available for the specific cause of the tingling in the fingers. (iStock)
Doctors also recommend staying hydrated by drinking water regularly.
It’s also important to manage existing health conditions.
“If you do have diabetes, be sure to manage it through diet and proper medication provided by your family physician,” Lizarzaburu recommended.
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For issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, performing stretching exercises, getting physical therapy or wearing wrist splints overnight are good initial treatment options, the doctor said.
If symptoms persist, surgery may be necessary in some cases.
When should you see a doctor?
Symptoms that are brief and infrequent are usually not worrisome, Levin said.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common neurological causes of tingling fingers. (iStock)
If symptoms are getting worse — or are heightened by coughing, straining or with neck or arm movement — this could signal a neurological problem that needs to be checked, the doctor advised.
Aside from a thorough physical examination, the medical provider may opt to perform MRI imaging or electrical nerve testing.
Once a diagnosis is made, there may be treatment available for the specific cause, such as exercises for a pinched nerve in the neck or a wrist splint for carpal tunnel syndrome, Levin noted.
If conservative treatments aren’t effective, surgery may provide relief, he added.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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Yoga is known to boost relaxation, strength and flexibility – and now a new study has found the practice could improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances after cancer treatment.
The findings were presented last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
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The study was conducted across multiple U.S. community cancer care sites, including 410 adult cancer survivors averaging 54 years of age. Around 75% were breast cancer survivors, and none of them had practiced yoga regularly within the prior three months.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances in cancer survivors. (iStock)
The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Half of them received only standard survivorship care without the yoga, while the other half received standard care and were also enrolled in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training.
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Based on questionnaires completed by the patients, the survivors in the yoga group experienced “moderate-to-large” reductions in overall mood disturbance, “small-to-medium” reductions in anxiety and “medium-to-large” reductions in fatigue, the study found.
The improvements in mood and fatigue appeared to be linked to yoga’s beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to the researchers.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training. (iStock)
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug,” lead investigator Yuri Choi, PhD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, New York, told Fox News Digital.
The study did not reveal any major safety concerns or serious adverse events related to the yoga practice.
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug.”
The study did have some limitations, chiefly that the findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed for a medical publication.
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“The sample in our clinical trial was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being women (96%), breast cancer patients (75%), Caucasian (93%), and having some college or higher education (82%),” noted Choi.
“We are adapting our intervention to reach all cancer patients and survivors, including the creation of a mobile app to reach people in rural communities.”
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The research also excluded patients with metastatic cancer (whose disease had spread to other parts of the body).
The total study was only four weeks, so more research is needed to determine long-term benefits.
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted. (iStock)
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted.
Some yoga studios may use different names for Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga, such as Foundations Yoga or Healing Yoga, Choi noted.
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“Survivors should also look for certified yoga instructors who have experience working with cancer patients/survivors or individuals with other challenging health conditions,” the researcher advised. “They should not be afraid to ask their oncology team for referrals to qualified instructors in their community.”
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Choi also noted that the research did not reveal whether other types of yoga, such as heated-room or rigorous-flow yoga, are safe or beneficial for cancer survivors.
The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute.
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