Numbness In The Hands And Feet Can Be A Sign Of Nerve Damage. Here's What You Should Know
Peripheral neuropathy may cause challenges in everyday activities, like trouble walking or sleeping due to pain and discomfort.
By Marion Fernando — 24 Jun 2022, 01:03 PM
Peripheral neuropathy is a chronic clinical condition that occurs when sensory nerves sustain damage
Damaged nerves don't work as well to deliver signals about physical sensations, like not knowing when a cup of coffee is too hot to hold onto, for example.
When your nerves are damaged, it usually results in symptoms like numbness, tingling, prickling, and burning sensations in your hands and feet.
You may even experience reduced physical abilities and poor sleep due to the discomfort if the condition is left untreated.
Peripheral neuropathy is typically brought upon by underlying conditions, with diabetes considered as one of the most common causes
Vitamin B deficiencies, aging, and other risks that lead to peripheral nerve damage are also underlying conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy.
However, as the prevalence of diabetes in the country increases to a historic high (from 15.2% in 2011 to 20.0% in 2021), reports indicate that every one in two diabetic patients now suffer from neuropathy.
In fact, peripheral neuropathy affects a significant 54.3% of Malaysians diagnosed with diabetes.
Fortunately, there are a few options available to manage peripheral neuropathy
Treatment involves focusing on the underlying condition that caused the nerve damage, like correcting vitamin deficiencies (typically vitamin B1, B6, and B12) or controlling blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
A combination of treatments usually works best, and relief is possible, allowing you to return to regular daily activities.
If you experience numbness and tingling sensations in the limbs, you may want to visit your doctor for advice and to find out steps you can take to help with symptoms.
In support of Neuropathy Awareness Week 2022, P&G Health is shining a spotlight on peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can put its weight on quality of life, which is why P&G Health recently launched its Feel Life campaign in 18 countries, including Malaysia.
Through this initiative, the company is collaborating with social influencers, healthcare professionals, as well as medical and partner associations to educate the public on important aspects that could alleviate peripheral neuropathy.
Inspired by the symptoms that peripheral neuropathy presents, P&G Health has also prepared a social media challenge designed to give you a better feel of the condition
Called the #FeelLife challenge, local influencers like Farah Nabilah, Awal Ashari, and Joe Chang will be leading this initiative under the campaign.
Through this, you'll be able to better understand how symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can impact an individual's quality of life, affecting everyday activity, like picking up a pen or typing out a text message.
The purpose? According to the brand, it's to encourage Malaysians to seek timely treatment.
Ultimately, P&G Health aims to do its part as a leading nerve care expert, and empower you to live a healthier, more vibrant, and better quality life
"Neuropathy Awareness Week is a key platform for the entire ecosystem to come together and discuss the condition so that the community is more informed and able to take mitigative steps," said Aalok Agrawal, senior vice president of P&G Health in Asia Pacific, India, Middle East, and Africa.
"We encourage everyone to don the purple ribbon with us as we commemorate this important week for better collective health," he added.
You can access a peripheral neuropathy assessment by P&G Health to find out your risk levels of the condition here
The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader's own medical care.
