According to the researchers at the Gaziosmanpasa University in Turkey, obesity is correlated with higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Results of their study were presented at the 17th Meeting of the European Neurological Society Meeting in Rhodos (Greece) in June 2007.
As par the statistics, 25 percent of obese people are found to suffer with this neurological condition. Other causes include rheumatoid arthritis, work stress, wrist joint injury, fluid retention during menopause or pregnancy, use of vibrating hand tools, formation of tumor in the site, over activity of pituitary gland and hypothyroidism (not enough hormones being produced by the thyroid glands).
The carpal tunnel is a narrow and rigid passage of bones and ligament present at the base of the hand. It contains the median nerve which is involved with the sensation and movements of fingers and thumb. The syndrome arises when this nerve gets squeezed or pressed at the wrist. Some times no cause can be attributed to this painful progressive condition.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms:
- Burning fingers
- Numbness in fingers
- Numbness in the palms
- Feeling of the fingers being swollen though there are no apparent signs
- Tingling fingers
- Inability to differentiate between hot and cold
- Finger paresthesias – abnormal sensations in the fingers
- Typically thumb, middle and index fingers are affected
- Little finger not much affected
- Hand numbness
- Hand weakness
- Sleeping with flexed wrists
- Jerking the hands on waking up from the sleep
- Difficulty making a fist
- Difficulty gripping especially small things
- Dropping things
- Wasting of the base of the muscles
Unfortunately though a link between obesity and high risks of developing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms is established, there is no explanation for the underlying mechanism as of now.
The study by Turkish researchers also found that weight loss did not provide any relief to the patients suffering from this syndrome. A genetic link leading to a predisposition for acquiring both these conditions cannot be ruled out.
