National Association of Nutritional Professionals (NANP) Domain IV Practice Test

Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve in the wrist, causing numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. These symptoms most often appear at night because sleeping often places the wrist in a flexed or pinched position and reduces movement, which narrows the carpal tunnel and increases pressure on the nerve. Overnight fluid shifts can also worsen compression, so many people wake up with numbness or a need to shake out the hand. While daytime use can provoke symptoms, the characteristic timing is at night.