My legs are always falling asleep. Is this a sign of something dangerous?

Thanks for the info, Maryann! That is so interesting. It makes sense why my legs fall asleep, because it's usually if I'm sitting for a long time at my desk, especially after my legs are crossed.

When my legs do fall asleep, is there a way to make it go away quicker? Or do I just have to sit and wait it out for a few minutes?

Hello Erin,

The sensation that your legs are "falling asleep" results from being in one position too long. Prolonged pressure, from sitting, actually cuts off communication from your brain to other parts of your body.

The pressure squeezes nerve pathways so that the nerves can't transmit electrochemical impulses properly. Nerve impulses carry sensation information from nerve endings in the body to the brain, as well as instructions from the brain to the parts of the body.

This pressure can also squeeze arteries, stopping them from carrying nutrients to body cells. Without these nutrients, the nerve cells may behave abnormally, which can further interfere with communicating bodily sensations.

Because of both of the above mentioned factors, some nerve cells don't transmit any information and others start sending impulses erratically. This causes you to feel a strange tingling sensation, which actually serves an important function. Your legs falling asleep for 10 minutes doesn't pose any health threat, but if you were to cut off circulation for an extended period of time,like several hours, you could suffer serious nerve damage. The initial tingling sensation tells you that you might want to readjust your position.

Hope this helps,
Maryann