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What’s Really Happening When Your Hands or Feet Fall Asleep?

You know that dull, pins-and-needles sensation you get when your limbs fall asleep? Turns out, it has everything to do with our nervous systems. Here's why our hands and feet keep snoozing on us and what we can do to wake them up.

By Donna Sarkar
Jun 1, 2021 7:00 PMJun 2, 2021 3:02 PM
sleepy limbs
(Credit: aleks333/Shutterstock)

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It happens to the best of us: You’re sitting in the same position for a bit too long (perhaps slumped over your computer) and suddenly, you can’t move your hands or feet. It usually takes a few minutes to return to normal, but after some stomping and shaking, they magically wake up.

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