Do you often wake up with a tingling sensation in the feet?
A tingling sensation generally refers to a sensory loss in any body part. It is vital not to ignore this warning signal as tingling in the feet could indicate nerve damage.

Causes of a tingling sensation in the feet
A tingling sensation in the feet can sometimes be temporary and harmless or could be the result of pressure on the nerves or incorrect posture.

However, this “pins and needles” effect on your feet is usually painless, and you can dismiss it as soon as you relieve the pressure which causes it.

On the other hand, continuous tingling sensations in your extremities, especially the feet, can be the sign of a disease; in fact, it can be severe, episodic, or chronic. Other symptoms such as pain, prickling, burning, electric shocks, itching or numbness can accompany the tingling sensation. In such cases, it is vital to not to take it lightly since it can be a sign of nerve damage, systemic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorder, liver disease, hormonal imbalance or a connective tissue disorder. Sometimes, some severe infection, autoimmune disease, nerve compression caused by a herniated disc, dislocated bone or vitamin deficiency can cause this symptom.

Diagnosis

It is advisable to take instant medical advice for persistent tingling sensation in the feet or hands or both. The sooner the doctor identifies the primary cause of this symptom, the sooner it can be treated. You are also less likely to suffer any permanent damage.

Medical experts carry out a physical examination and then conduct extensive blood tests to identify the cause. Other tests that are usually carried out are:

• Electromyogram commonly referred to as EMG, which tests the electrical activity of the muscle
• Nerve conduction test
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Treatments
Successful treatments for a tingling sensation in feet depends on getting an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause. If the nerve cells are not damaged, then the tingling will subside over a period of time as the cells are capable of regeneration. If diabetes is the cause for this, then you can control your blood sugar levels through lifestyle changes. Thus, the progression of diabetic neuropathy can slow down significantly. Doctors recommend vitamin supplements to patients who experience this symptom because of vitamin deficiency.
Additionally, it is vital to follow a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet, abstain from smoking and alcohol consumption. Patients can walk and exercise regularly to avoid such sensations.