Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Dayana from Chicago , IL. Dayana Wonders, “Why does your foot fall asleep?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Dayana !
You know the feeling. You've been sitting doing your homework for half an hour or so, one leg tucked underneath you. You get thirsty and jump up to grab a drink of water. As soon as your foot hits the ground, though…ugh! It feels like you're walking on pins and needles.
What's wrong? Your foot has fallen asleep! Was your homework that boring? Or did your foot not get a good night's sleep last night? What's the deal?
Some people believe that paresthesia — the heavy, dull, tingling, burning or “weird" pins and needles feeling when your foot falls asleep — is caused by not enough blood circulating to your foot. In reality, though, your foot falling asleep has more to do with your nerves.
Nerves are like tiny wires that run throughout your body. Like the electric wires throughout your house that carry electricity to outlets, your nerves carry messages back and forth between the many parts of your body and your brain.
If you sit on your foot long enough, you compress the nerves in that area. Of course, this can happen to other parts of your body, too. People might experience legs, arms and hands that fall asleep from time to time.
When you compress the nerves in a certain area, communication from that part of the body to the brain is disrupted temporarily. As a result, that part of your body doesn't feel anything because it's not communicating with your brain.
If you also happen to be compressing arteries in that area, blood flow to your nerves may be reduced, too. This can contribute to the miscommunication with the brain.
When you change position, the nerves begin to return to normal and start communicating again. While those connections with the brain are being established again, you feel some weird sensations. They usually don't hurt, though, and they don't last very long.
Everyone experiences these feelings from time to time, and they're completely normal. They don't hurt your body, but they sure can feel really strange for a short time until your brain and your body start “talking" again!
Lily
Joseph
Jack
Natalie
evelyn
Abbey
Bethanie
Chester
Lauren?
Brae
Liam
Alexa
Brian
BGMead
agnes
Ceanna
Neko heart
alisha jade brooks
Isaac
Sarahi
sarahi
Sarahi
william
gummy bear
Wonderopolis
Eli Smith
Wonderopolis
Addison Thome
Wonderopolis
Julie
Wonderopolis
MORGAN
Wonderopolis
Marina Freeman
Wonderopolis
sleepy
Wonderopolis
wonderguy4
Wonderopolis
morgan
Wonderopolis
Oliva in Mrs,Phillips wonder c...
Wonderopolis
kiah
Wonderopolis
leah
Wonderopolis
Sarah
Wonderopolis
Kassy
Wonderopolis
Maia Saltsman
Wonderopolis
kylie mcgowan
Wonderopolis
Alyssa
Wonderopolis
Clayton
Wonderopolis
Clayton
Wonderopolis
Cassidy
Wonderopolis
Mushkale
Wonderopolis
Brianna
Wonderopolis
wonder
Wonderopolis
Emma
Wonderopolis
Gretchen
Wonderopolis
chris
Wonderopolis
KF Dragons
Wonderopolis
caelah
Wonderopolis
Mr. Draper's Class
Wonderopolis
Haylee
Wonderopolis
Allan
Wonderopolis
Miss Kirsten's Kindergarten GT...
Wonderopolis
rahul
Wonderopolis
Mira from Mrs. Barboza's Class
Wonderopolis
Ms. Beard's Class
Wonderopolis
Eli
Wonderopolis
Eli
Wonderopolis
ellen
Wonderopolis
adam
Wonderopolis
Kamryn B
Wonderopolis
caelah
Gisela
Wonderopolis
Wonderopolis
Mrs. Bayko's
Wonderopolis