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What Causes Electric Shock Like Sensation Through Touch?
Question: Hi for the last couple of days I keep getting electric shocks when I touch things and even when I touched my son, it does happen to me from time to time but at the moment it is becoming more frequent and I actually feel pain in my hand and arm.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
People fee electric shocks or give electric shocks, when the voltage on their body exceeds 4000 volts (4 kV). This happens when electric charge builds up on our bodies. The biggest culprits of causing this are the floor material, the material in the soles or our shoes, and walking with more scuffing of the floor. Wearing certain fibers (such as wool) increases this too. Dry air makes all of this worse.
We all have an electric field around us and the size/charge can vary to some extent due to stress and agitation as well, although I don't think there's been scientific research on this.
Does this answer your question?
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
People fee electric shocks or give electric shocks, when the voltage on their body exceeds 4000 volts (4 kV). This happens when electric charge builds up on our bodies. The biggest culprits of causing this are the floor material, the material in the soles or our shoes, and walking with more scuffing of the floor. Wearing certain fibers (such as wool) increases this too. Dry air makes all of this worse.
We all have an electric field around us and the size/charge can vary to some extent due to stress and agitation as well, although I don't think there's been scientific research on this.
Does this answer your question?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the answer. It is strange as my clothes, the shoes my house have not changed yet I am getting regular electric shocks throughout the day. Evidently like everyone I have had static electric shocks from time to time however never like this. Hopefully it will stop soon as they seem to be getting more frequent and painful.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
I wish I could solve this - it is strange.
Some things you can do to try to decrease the build up of electric charge on your body is to moisturize your skin well, wear cotton (and not wool or synthetics), get different shoes (rubber soles are good insulators). Avoid layering clothes, when possible, because the friction between the layers can generate more electrical charge. If you get shocked when touching your car door, hold the metal of the key in your palm before touching the door (this helps discharge the electricity that may have built up while you were driving). In fact, holding some small metal object may help during times you are particularly full of shocks.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
I wish I could solve this - it is strange.
Some things you can do to try to decrease the build up of electric charge on your body is to moisturize your skin well, wear cotton (and not wool or synthetics), get different shoes (rubber soles are good insulators). Avoid layering clothes, when possible, because the friction between the layers can generate more electrical charge. If you get shocked when touching your car door, hold the metal of the key in your palm before touching the door (this helps discharge the electricity that may have built up while you were driving). In fact, holding some small metal object may help during times you are particularly full of shocks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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