Paresthesia is a condition where you might feel unusual sensations in your body, like tingling, numbness, or a burning feeling. It often happens when there’s an issue with your nerves, which are responsible for sending signals throughout your body. This article will help you understand what causes paresthesia, common symptoms, and what you can do to manage or prevent it
Common Symptoms of Paresthesia
When people have carpal tunnel syndrome, which is an obstruction of the nerve in the wrist, they can also have these symptoms. What happens is that you either have direct damage to the nerve, such as the loss of the coating around the nerve, or there is compression of the nerve itself. You might also wake up in the middle of the night with pain, which can be very irritating.
Causes of Paresthesia
I want to talk about the different causes and then the number one cause. The first one is chemotherapy, which has a side effect of causing peripheral neuropathies or nerve damage. Chemicals, in general, can destroy nerves as well. Statins can also have a side effect of nerve damage because they block the production of cholesterol, which is needed within the nervous system. Most of the nerve is composed of fat, so if you’re blocking cholesterol, you can block the production of a normal nervous system and the membranes around the cells.
Going on a low-fat diet can also cause this. For example, if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, even the retina in the eye, which is neurological, is affected by DHA and EPA. DHA comes from animal products unless you’re getting it from algae, but you get most DHA from fish. If you’re on a low-fat diet and have these symptoms, you might want to start consuming healthy, wild-caught fish or some good cod liver oil or salmon oil to start building that up. DHA is very important in neurology and preventing these problems.
The Role of B Vitamins
Toxic levels of something called homocysteine can also cause issues. This compound builds up when you have a deficiency of certain B vitamins in the diet. B vitamins are crucial in maintaining nerve function. If you’re deficient in B12, you can have neuritis and all sorts of nerve issues. B6 and B12 are essential. A B vitamin deficiency can create problems with this.
If you’re on metformin because you’re diabetic, one of the side effects is that it depletes vitamin B12, which is needed for nerve function. Seizure medications can decrease folate, and one of their side effects is paresthesia. Drinking alcohol depletes your B vitamins. If you’re an alcoholic or drink too much, it can create this problem.
High Carbohydrate Diet and Paresthesia
However, the most common cause is a high carbohydrate diet. I’m talking about refined carbohydrates in the form of sugar, pasta, bread, crackers, and similar foods. Consuming these will deplete various nutrients, primarily B vitamins.
This is why diabetics, who are usually on a high-carb diet, have problems with peripheral neuropathies, nerve damage, and paresthesia due to the loss of B vitamins. If a diabetic had high levels of B vitamins in their diet, even though their sugar was high, they would experience fewer symptoms. B vitamins, especially B1, are protective against nerve damage.
Solutions and Recommendations
If you have this problem and are consuming high carbs, switch to a low-carb diet. I have provided a link below on how to do that. At the same time, start taking B vitamins. The best source would be nutritional yeast, but you can also take benfotiamine. Let me spell that for you: benfotiamine. It is a fat-soluble B1 that helps the nervous system and can help undo this condition. It is also good for advanced nerve problems like peripheral neuropathies.
Also Read: Top Wellness Trends You Should Follow in 2025
Conclusion
Paresthesia can be uncomfortable, but there are ways to manage it. By understanding what causes it and making changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can help improve your nerve health. Simple steps like eating a balanced diet, taking the right vitamins, and avoiding high-carb foods can make a big difference. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to take action and, if needed, consult with a healthcare professional.
