Carpal tunnel syndrome affects approximately 10% of the adult population, with women being three times more likely to suffer from the condition than men. You may have heard of this condition if you’ve been around people who are constantly using computers, or doing something repetitive with their wrists and hands.

Contrary to what many people may believe, this isn’t a condition that is suffered by only secretaries and data entry personnel. Many people in a variety of different jobs may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, such as:

– Truck drivers
– Carpenters
– Surgeons
– Dentists
– Musicians
– Other computer professionals

What is carpal tunnel syndrome exactly? It is a numbness and tingling in an affected hand due to the nerves in that hand being compressed. This results in pain, restricted movement and numbness. It may affect the wrist, palm, thumb, index finger and middle finger. Your pinky finger is usually spared the pain.

However, your job or hobby alone doesn’t always cause this condition. There are several health conditions in general that may spark the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome. These include:

– Pregnancy
– Hormonal problems (typically hypothyroidism or acromegaly)
– Diabetes
– Stress
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Alcoholism
– Kidney failure
– Patients on Hemodialysis
– Birth defects
– Fractures
– Wrist dislocation
– Blood clots in the wrist after a traumatic injury
– Tumors
– Ganglion

Remember, carpal tunnel syndrome can affect people of all ages. With computers becoming more prevalent in our lives today, more children and teenagers are becoming affected by the condition. Video games may also have something to do with younger generations developing this condition as well. However, people who are in their 40s to 50s tend to suffer from the condition more than other age groups.

If you’ve been feeling numbness, tingling and pain in your wrists and hands, consider speaking to your doctor or a physiotherapist in your area, about whether or not you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.