Why do my hands tingle or go numb?

Position solves most of it: nerves squeezed at the wrist or elbow wake you with numb hands or make phones and steering wheels tingle. Night tingling of thumb through ring finger, shaken off the wrist, is classic carpal tunnel.

Both-hands-and-feet tingling is different, a glove-and-stocking pattern, pointing to B12 deficiency, diabetes, alcohol or thyroid trouble, all testable.

Sudden one-sided numbness with face droop, weakness or speech trouble is a stroke until proven otherwise: emergency services, immediately. For the rest, persistent or progressive tingling deserves tests, and early carpal tunnel splinting works well.