Q: I am an 82-year-old male and have normal blood pressure and
circulation. I have a constant tingling feeling in the fingertips of my
right hand and many times, especially at night, the fingers will go
completely numb, requiring massaging to bring back the feeling. I have
had this problem for the last two years, and it seems to be getting
worse.
A:This is a common problem in older people.
Most people at your age have some degree of arteriosclerosis, or
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hardening of the arteries. Because the blood vessels at the extremities
are already quite small and fine, these are the first to be affected if
there is any narrowing of the blood vessels due to plaque formation.
The symptoms get worse at night because you are not moving around as
much. You may also inadvertently roll over onto that side more than the
other.
Another common cause of pins and needles is compression of the nerves
leading to the fingers. The pressure might be at the wrist, the elbow,
the shoulder, or most likely, the spine in the neck. If there is some
degree of arthritis of the spine, the nerve roots can be impinged by
rough areas or bony spurs on the vertebrae. There is nothing much you
can do about this, but a simple X-ray of the neck area will tell you if
you have osteoarthritis. Most people your age have it to some degree
without any noticeable pain.
Air conditioning harmful?
Q: I just came back from visiting my mother, who is living in a nursing
home. There was no air conditioning in the rooms and she was
complaining of being too hot. When I asked why the facility didn’t have
air conditioning, I was told “it is bad for old people.” Is this true?
A: I cannot see any logic in that response. Many old people die every
year in the United States in summer because they do not have air
conditioning in their homes or apartments. It might be bad for them if
it is blasting out very cold air, but it can always be set to go on at
a slightly higher temperature than is usual in restaurants and shopping
malls.
The nursing home may be worried that air conditioning will spread
bacterial infections such as Legionnaires disease. However, if the unit
is properly maintained and disinfected regularly, this should not occur.
I suspect the home doesn’t want to pay the cost to install and maintain
air conditioning. It can use a lot of electricity.
I suggest you buy her a fan for her room, and perhaps write a letter to
the appropriate authorities.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont.
Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are
encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding
medical questions and treatments.
