What Causes Tingling Extremities during Menopause?

By Leigh K. | Updated: Aug 02, 2016

Ladies
What Causes Tingling Extremities during Menopause?

Women experience many symptoms during menopause, and not just the most talked about ones such as hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats. Many women also experience tingling extremities, scientifically called paresthesia, which is described as tingling, burning, and prickling sensations.

Tingling sensations are usually related to damages to the nervous system, but they can also be caused by something as inconsequential as putting pressure on an arm or leg for too long. However, if tingling sensations are reoccurring or it is not immediately obvious what is causing them, they may be a result of one of the following factors.

1

Vitamin deficiency

What Causes Tingling Extremities during Menopause?

A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause tingling sensations, and if you think you have this deficiency, it is important to see a doctor right away. This condition is usually treated with an injection of B12. Along with a tingling sensations, symptoms of B12 deficiency include:

  • Skin that turns a pale yellow color
  • A sore, red tongue
  • Mouth sores
  • Changes in vision
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Mood and behavior changes
  • Poor memory and judgment

It is also important to consume foods that contain vitamin B12. These foods include meat, mollusks, crustaceans, dairy products, eggs, and fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, and tuna.

2

Some medications and treatments

Certain medications can cause tingling sensations, so it is important to read the information you are given with prescriptions, and talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Radiation therapy can also cause tingling sensations as a side effect.

3

Some medical conditions

What Causes Tingling Extremities during Menopause?

Medical conditions that can cause tingling sensations include:

  • A herniated disk
  • An injured nerve
  • Shingles
  • Herpes
  • Some heart conditions
  • Enlarged blood vessels
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Diabetes
  • Migraines
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Underactive thyroid
  • Strokes

If you are experiencing the symptoms of any one of these conditions, it is important to seek medical attention.

4

Fluctuating hormone levels

What Causes Tingling Extremities during Menopause?

Estrogen has wide-ranging impacts on the body, including the nervous system. Although estrogen's impacts on the nervous system are not well understood, decreasing levels of the hormone that happen during menopause can cause tingling sensations.

Tingling sensations can happen due to a wide variety of factors, including menopause, underlying medical conditions, medications, and nutrient deficiencies. It is important to talk to a doctor if you have any concerns. Click on the following link to learn more about how to treat tingling sensations caused by menopause.

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