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But what exactly is behind the numbness and tingling, which most people describe as the foot falling asleep? They imagine the “asleep” feeling happens when your blood, which carries nutrients all over your body, is unable to get to your foot. It’ll go away pretty quickly – and maybe it can remind you of all the important brain messages your nerves are usually transmitting without your even noticing. Remember, it’s these nerves that carry messages back and forth to let your brain and your foot communicate with each other. But when you compress the nerves for an extended period of time (which can happen when you sit on your foot or cross your legs for too long, for example), communication between the body and the brain can be temporarily interrupted.
However, chronic paresthesia could be caused by medical conditions like diabetes, hyperventilation syndrome, neuron function problems, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), poor circulation, tumors, panic attacks and prior strokes. When your foot falls asleep, there is something wrong with the communication between your brain and the muscles in that area. For a minute or two it feels uncomfortable and weird, but soon enough you are able to stand up and walk around normally. Therefore, it is suggested that you visit a health care provider if you experience one or both of your feet falling asleep on a regular basis. Zachary Gillen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.Many people assume the strange sensation described as a foot falling asleep is due to restricted blood flow, but poor circulation is rarely to blame for a limb that has fallen asleep. The “falling asleep” feeling of parasthesia is rarely painful and, as sites like Healthline, Medlineplus and MayoClinic point out, the duration is usually only a few seconds. The discomfort prompts you to adjust your position, which is necessary to avoid permanent damage that may occur in the limbs if blood flow is restricted and nerves are compressed for several hours. The nerves in your body act like tiny phone wires, carrying electrochemical messages back and forth between your body and your brain.
We’ve all had the uncomfortable experience: Following an extended period of having your foot or leg bent in an awkward position, you try to move or stand up and realize that you feel a numbness or tingling in your feet, almost as if you’re on pins and needles. When an artery is pinched, it is unable to supply your tissues and nerve cells with the oxygen and glucose-rich blood they need.
When your foot falls asleep, it’s actually because the nerves that connect the brain to the foot are getting squished thanks to the position you’re sitting in. In fact, since it lasts for only a minute or two, you may not even remember it happened by the end of the day. I’m an exercise physiologist – a scientist who studies what happens to our bodies when we move and exercise.
Every time you decide to move your body, whether it’s standing up, walking around or playing sports, your brain sends signals to your muscles to make sure they move correctly.Even though it’s not causing any permanent damage, you might still want to avoid the uncomfortable feeling that comes when your foot falls asleep. In particular, they cannot substitute for the examination, advice, or treatment by a licensed physician or pharmacist. Most of the time, when your foot, or any other body part, falls asleep, it is temporary and nothing to worry about.