What is the cause of numbness of body?

Another cause of limb numbness is the hyperventilation some people experience when they're anxious or afraid. While numbness usually is a harmless symptom, doctors stress that any sudden, unexplained numbness could be a sign of a serious illness and should be checked out.

Among the more serious causes of numbness are poor blood circulation, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and carpal tunnel syndrome-a compression of the nerves of the wrist, which causes numbness in the hand and fingers.

Numbness also can be a warning sign of an imminent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), a mini-stroke that temporarily causes symptoms of a major stroke such as paralysis or blurred vision. Without proper medical treatment, a TIA can lead to a full-blown stroke that may cause permanent physical or mental impairment.