7 Warning Signs in Your Hands You Should Never Ignore | Dr. Mandell

Persistent Numbness or Tingling [00:00]

• Numbness, shaking, swelling, color changes, weakness, or nail changes can indicate underlying body issues.
• Persistent pins and needles, burning, or numbness, especially if recurring, should be noted.
• This can stem from median nerve compression (carpal tunnel) or nerve irritation from the neck, affecting the arm and hand.
• Diabetes and other peripheral nerve conditions can cause similar sensations, including tingling, pain, numbness, and weakness.

  Pay attention to which fingers are affected, whether it's one hand or both hands, whether it wakes you up at night, and whether changing positions in your neck, your arm, or your wrists makes it worse or better.

Color Changes and Cold Fingers [00:58]

• Fingers repeatedly turning unusually white, blue, red, or feeling very cold can be a warning sign.
• This can be caused by Raynaud's phenomenon, where small blood vessels constrict excessively, triggered by cold or stress.
• While sometimes benign, new or severe symptoms, painful episodes, sores, or significant persistent color changes require evaluation, as they can indicate circulation problems or autoimmune conditions.

  Compare the same fingers on both hands. Is one hand dramatically colder? Is one finger completely different, a different color?

Loss of Grip Strength [01:57]

• A noticeable decrease in grip strength, leading to difficulty with everyday tasks like opening jars or holding objects, is significant.
• This weakness can result from arthritis, tendon issues, nerve compression, muscle weakness, or age-related muscle loss.
• A significant or progressive change in grip strength indicates a potential issue along the pathway of brain-spinal cord-nerve-muscle-joint communication.

  Pick up something you normally handle without thinking. A bottle, a coffee mug, or another safe object. Does one hand suddenly feel considerably weaker than the other?

Sudden Weakness or Numbness: Stroke Warning [03:01]

• Sudden weakness or numbness in one hand or arm, especially on one side of the body, can be a stroke warning sign.
• This is particularly critical if accompanied by facial drooping, difficulty speaking, confusion, vision changes, dizziness, or loss of balance.
• Immediate medical attention is crucial; call 911 without delay if these symptoms occur.

  Sudden weakness or numbness involving one hand or arm, particularly on one side of your body, and especially when accompanied by facial drooping, difficulty speaking, confusion, vision changes, dizziness, or loss of balance, can be a warning sign of a stroke.

Hand Tremors and Swelling [03:51]

• Persistent shaking or trembling of the hands, beyond what's caused by caffeine, stress, or fatigue, warrants evaluation.
• Causes can range from essential tremors to thyroid issues or neurological disorders.
• Unexplained, recurring swelling in the fingers or hands can signal arthritis, inflammation, or fluid retention related to other medical conditions.

  Don't assume every tremor means something serious, but don't ignore a persistent or worsening change either.

Fingernail Changes and Pain [05:00]

• Changes in fingernails, such as brittleness, texture changes, spoon-shaped nails, or pits, can offer health clues.
• A new or changing dark streak beneath the nail, especially if it widens or alters surrounding skin, requires examination by a healthcare professional.
• Persistent pain or stiffness, particularly morning stiffness or difficulty bending fingers, can indicate arthritis or nerve involvement.

  That should be examined by a healthcare professional.