How to wake your hand up when it falls asleep

After your hand has been at rest in a compressed position, it may become numb or fall asleep.

WARNING: If you experience numbness and tingling shortly after a head, neck, or back injury, go to the hospital or call 911.

Step 1: Wait for a minute or two
Relieve the compression on your hand and wait for a minute or two. In most cases feeling will return, often with a tingling or pins-and-needles sensation.

Temporary pressure on the nerves in your hand causes it to fall asleep.

Step 2: Shake it
Shake your hand and count to five. Do this three times. It will encourage circulation and nerve decompression.

Step 3: Reach for the sky
Reach your arm or arms skyward. Hold and count to five. A few repetitions should loosen pinched or compressed nerves.

Step 4: Rock your head
Rock your head from side to side. A sleeping hand can be the result of the compression of a bundle of nerves in your neck. Loosening your neck muscles can relieve the pressure.

Step 5: Shrug your shoulders
Raise and lower your shoulders. Hold the position for a few seconds. A couple of repetitions of this will loosen nerves in your neck.

Be careful not to injure your hand when it is asleep. The decrease in feeling may make it more prone to accidental injury.

Step 6: Avoid nerve compression
Prevent your hand from falling asleep in the future by avoiding placing it in a position where the nerves become compressed.

Step 7: See your doctor if the condition persists
Consult your doctor if numbness and tingling in your hand persist. You may have a more serious medical condition.

Fact: Nerves, which run like threads through your whole body, carry messages to the brain.