If you are suffering from severe or persistent body aches, you should visit your doctor right away. Especially if you also have other worrying symptoms, it could indicate a serious medical condition.
Body aches can be caused by many different things. Sometimes they are temporary, like when you exercise too hard or catch a common cold. Other times, they’re a sign of a more serious health condition such as fibromyalgia or arthritis.
If you overuse one of your body’s muscles or tendons, it can cause pain and tenderness. This type of muscle pain is called overuse syndrome, and it usually affects a single area of the body. Overuse injuries can be caused by sports or activities that require repetitive movements, such as swimming, running or playing a musical instrument. They can also be caused by work tasks that require repetitive movements, such as scanning items in a store or carrying heavy trays at a restaurant. They can also be caused by certain medications, such as statins and antibiotics, which affect the entire body. Teens can experience overuse injuries from participating in high-impact activities like football and basketball or by going through a growth spurt during puberty, which can tighten muscles and tendons.
Some people have a condition that causes them to feel pain all over their body, called fibromyalgia. This condition may have a genetic component, but it’s not clear what causes it to develop. People with fibromyalgia have trouble sleeping well, which can contribute to their pain and fatigue. They often have other chronic health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome or psychiatric disorders.
The flu can also cause body aches. When you have the flu, your immune system releases chemicals that fight off infection and make you feel achy all over.
Other infections that can cause body aches include malaria, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In addition, autoimmune conditions such as lupus and thyroid problems can cause aching muscles. If you have an infection, it’s important to take your medicine as directed to prevent complications. If your body aches don’t go away, talk to your doctor. They can recommend treatments that can help reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. They may recommend over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers, physical or occupational therapy, exercise and a healthy diet. They can also refer you to a specialist if necessary. Getting enough sleep and managing stress are also important for reducing your body aches. Try taking a deep breath or meditating before bed to ease your stress and help you fall asleep.
When a virus, bacteria or even just the common cold causes illness, it can also cause body aches. The reason is that your immune system goes into overdrive to fight the infection and can wear down your muscles as it does so. Full-body aches often go hand-in-hand with a fever, which can make you feel even more achy as your body temperature rises to battle the disease.
Stress, depression and other mental health conditions can also cause body aches. If the aches are accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain or psychiatric disorders, see your doctor for treatment.
Some of these illnesses can be treated at home with a warm bath, plenty of fluids, over-the-counter pain medications and fever-reducing medicine. If you have a long-term achy condition, such as arthritis, lupus or multiple sclerosis, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications and other treatments to ease the symptoms.
Aching is normal after strenuous activity, illness or aging, but persistent and/or severe body aches can be a sign of an underlying health condition that requires medical attention. If your aches aren’t relieved with rest, over-the-counter drugs and ice, it’s time to visit your doctor for evaluation and treatment.
If you’re prone to muscle aches, exercise with caution and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts. Stretch before and after exercise, drink plenty of fluids and take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin IB), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Use a heating pad to loosen tight muscles and reduce swelling. Avoid overheating, as it can lead to heat exhaustion and dehydration. If you’re experiencing achy joints, talk to your doctor about anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy and other treatments to ease the pain. If your body aches are accompanied by other symptoms, like fever, swollen glands or a sore throat, seek immediate medical attention. The health condition could be serious. Seek emergency care if the aches are accompanied by a fever, vomiting or difficulty breathing. The flu, for example, is one of the most common causes of body aches.
If your body feels achy for no apparent reason, it might be due to dehydration. When your body sweats, you lose not just water but electrolytes as well, such as sodium and potassium, which help muscle contractions function normally. If you don’t replace those lost electrolytes, muscles cramp and aches develop. Similarly, dehydration can make exercise and other physical activity more painful, especially if you’re suffering from the common cold or flu.
Dehydration can also cause a general feeling of fatigue. This is because your organs need to have adequate water levels in order to break down glycogen and other energy stores so that they can be used as fuel. Additionally, when you’re dehydrated, your blood doesn’t carry as many nutrients and oxygen to the brain and other tissues.
Symptoms of dehydration include a dry mouth, sunken eyes and a white tongue. The tongue can become white because the body has a hard time breaking down glycogen when it’s dehydrated, and as a result the cells around the area are starved of energy. Dehydration can also lead to bloating and constipation. This is because the body uses fluids and electrolytes to create stool.
In addition to being a common cause of body aches, dehydration can also increase the severity and duration of injuries and illnesses. This is particularly true if you’re exercising in hot temperatures and you don’t consume enough water. Insufficient water can lead to heat injury, which is a serious condition that can range in severity from mild heat cramps to potentially life-threatening heat stroke.
To prevent dehydration, start each day with a glass of water and continue to sip throughout the day. Add a sports drink to your diet when you’re exercising, and pack a water bottle when you go on long walks or hikes. To reduce the chances of experiencing a dehydration headache, try to avoid drinks that contain caffeine, as they can actually cause them in some people. You should also be sure to get adequate sleep every night. This is crucial for the health of your joints and muscles, as well as your overall wellness.
If your body aches when you wake up, you may have an underlying health condition or sleep disorder. Typically, this means you should visit your doctor for help. They can give you advice on how to improve your sleeping habits, such as getting a better mattress, finding the right sleeping position, and losing weight. In addition, they can recommend a sleep study to see if you have a sleep disorder or underlying health issue that is causing you to need more rest.
Occasionally, it is normal to need more sleep than usual. For example, if you are ill or have recently experienced a lot of stress, your body needs extra sleep to rebuild its energy and get back to optimal function. Also, if you are training for a marathon or have an intense job, you might need more sleep than usual to feel rested.
Oversleeping is a common problem for people who suffer from chronic pain, which can be caused by a variety of factors such as a bad mattress, sleeping in the wrong position, and spending too much time in one place. Other causes include taking medication or drinking too much alcohol, which can all cause sleep disturbances and disrupt your body’s natural rhythm.
In many cases, oversleeping is a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea or circadian rhythm disorders. Additionally, a number of studies have found that oversleeping is linked to higher death rates. This may be due to the fact that it is often accompanied by other unhealthy habits such as poor diet, obesity, and depression.
Overall, sleeping too long has been linked to a variety of health problems including heart disease and cancer. It can also lead to weight gain, achy joints and muscles, and an increased risk of diabetes. People who sleep too long are also more likely to experience inflammation, which is the body’s natural response to injury or illness. Inflammation can interfere with the body’s ability to heal and repair itself, resulting in more aches and pains. In addition, excessive sleep can lead to a lack of mental clarity and an inability to concentrate.
Body aches can happen when you catch the flu or get sick with a cold. These types of aches usually go away on their own with rest, rehydration and OTC treatments.
When pain is felt throughout the entire body it can be a sign of a serious underlying problem. Some causes of full-body aches are short-term, while others are long-term conditions such as fibromyalgia and fluid retention.
If you’ve tried a new, high-intensity workout, the muscles in your legs or arms may feel sore for up to 24 hours. This is called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). It’s the body’s way of telling you that your muscles need more time to recover after a strenuous exercise or that you’ve overexerted yourself.
Muscle pain can also occur when you’ve slept poorly or have been under stress. It can be a sign of fibromyalgia, which is a chronic illness that causes widespread muscle pain and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often have other health problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and psychiatric conditions.
Aching muscles can also be a sign of a viral illness such as the flu or COVID-19, which both cause fever and soreness. The flu can lead to body aches because your immune system triggers short-term muscle inflammation and releases chemicals that make you feel achy.
Whether you have a cold, the flu, or an infection that can cause body aches, over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease your discomfort. Ibuprofen or naproxen sodium reduces muscle pain and inflammation, while acetaminophen treats muscle tension and soreness.
It’s important to get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods. If the aches persist, talk to your health care provider. They can work with you to find the underlying cause and treat it so your aches go away.
It’s normal to have occasional body aches from exercise, illness, or the flu. However, if you have persistent, generalized aching that lasts more than three days or is severe and doesn’t improve with home treatment, see your primary care physician (PCP) right away. This could be a sign of an underlying medical condition such as an autoimmune disease, like lupus. It’s also a good idea to see your PCP if you have a fever along with your body aches. You may need an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection such as sepsis. This will help prevent the spread of infection and prevent the aches from getting worse.
Muscle weakness is a sign of an illness or injury. When you feel weak in your muscles, you are unable to move as easily or do the things you normally do. Muscle weakness can be caused by disease, infection, or even the flu or common cold.
If you are unsure what’s causing your muscle pain, see your doctor. Most body aches are mild and disappear with time, especially with rest, hydration and over-the-counter (OTC) medication. You can also ease the ache by alternating ice and heat to reduce swelling and shivering.
Most people experience body aches as a result of exercise, but it is also possible to have a long-term condition like arthritis or fibromylagia that causes your muscles to hurt. If the ache is sudden and you have other symptoms, such as a fever or chills, it may be a sign of an infection.
Infections, such as the flu or a cold, often cause body aches because they trigger an immune response in the body. This response creates inflammation that causes short-term muscle pain and fatigue. If the ache is severe and lasts longer than a few days, it may be a sign of a serious illness such as Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Another cause of muscle weakness is a nerve disorder, such as multiple sclerosis. This occurs when your body attacks the protective sheath that surrounds nerve fibers, which leads to a break in communication between your brain and other parts of your body. It can also be a side effect of some medications, such as corticosteroids.
Muscle weakness can also be a sign of a heart attack or stroke. If you have weakness that is spreading or gets worse, it is important to get medical help right away. Seek emergency care if the weakness affects your ability to stand, sit up, or walk. You should also seek treatment immediately if you have numbness in one or both of your arms or legs. This can be a sign of a stroke or an injury to your spinal cord or nerves. Your doctor can determine the cause of your weakness and recommend treatment.
Often referred to as muscle cramps, spasms range in intensity from mild, uncomfortable twitches to significant discomfort and pain. The spastic muscle may feel hard to the touch, appear distorted and twitch. Spasms last from seconds to 15 minutes and may recur multiple times before going away. Often, stretching the affected muscles will help. Drinking water and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can also be helpful.
Cramps can occur anywhere in the body, but they are most common in the feet, legs, back and arms. Symptoms usually begin during or after exercise. They can also happen during sleep or when sitting for long periods of time. Cramps can be caused by depletion of electrolytes (salts and minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium in the body). Drinking plenty of fluids will help relieve cramps. Adding salt tablets or sports drinks to your diet can also be beneficial. You can also try changing your workout routine to reduce the amount of cramping you experience and eat more foods that are high in potassium (bananas, orange juice and yogurt).
Although spasms can be a normal part of life for some people, they can also be a sign of serious medical problems. For example, frequent twitching in the tongue or leg muscles can be a sign of spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that affects nerve cells in the spinal cord and causes weakness. Isaacs syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that affects the nerves that stimulate muscle fibers to contract and twitch, can also cause frequent twitching in arm or leg muscles. Other symptoms that may indicate a more severe problem include fibromyalgia, which can cause tenderness in muscles and joints; and sepsis, which is an extreme response to an infection that can lead to organ failure.
Your doctor will diagnose the underlying cause of your body aches by asking questions about when you have them, what they feel like and how long they last. Your doctor may also order blood tests to see if you have an infection or are dehydrated. You may also have imaging tests such as a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a bone scan.
If you have a cold, flu, or virus that causes body aches, the pain usually clears up within a few days as the illness runs its course. But if you are having body aches that don’t go away or get worse, talk to your primary care physician (PCP) about the problem. You’ll probably need to be examined, and you should bring your symptoms (like a sore throat or rash, swollen lymph nodes, bloating or pain with urination, diarrhea, or loss of appetite) with you when you visit the doctor.
Fever can be a sign of a number of different conditions, from the common flu or COVID-19 to shingles and tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease or malaria. It can also indicate an autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
A fever is when your body’s temperature rises, and it is a sign that the immune system is working to fight an infection. Fever can be triggered by many things, including exercise, hot weather, or common childhood immunizations. If you are experiencing body aches and a fever, take an over-the-counter fever-reducing medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Some people have chronic, long-lasting body aches, which can be a symptom of a condition called fibromyalgia. It’s thought that this condition may be linked to overly sensitive muscles, and it can also be associated with other health problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, psychiatric disorders, and chronic pelvic pain.
Aches and pains are a normal part of life, and in most cases they can be resolved by home remedies, such as taking a few days off from exercise and drinking lots of water. But if you’re having body aches that don’t improve or become more severe, see your healthcare provider. You might need a medical exam and some tests to find out what’s causing them. You can also check in with your Kinsa nurse for expert advice on a variety of health topics. You can access this feature through the Kinsa app on your smartphone or desktop. Blake Wageman, RN, BSN, has more than 14 years of nursing experience and specializes in neonatal intensive care.
Body aches that clear up on their own or improve with rest and home treatment aren’t usually a sign of an illness. If the pain persists or is severe, talk to your doctor.
Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can treat inflammation and relieve soreness and stiffness. Be sure to follow instructions on the label.
Body aches can be caused by many things, including overuse (sore arms after lifting boxes all day), viral infections like the flu, or some chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia. Getting plenty of rest and drinking fluids can help ease discomfort. Resting also gives your body a chance to fight off infections and heal itself. Drinking plenty of fluids can cushion your joints, and help reduce swelling and pain by reducing dehydration. Using heat on painful muscles can loosen them up. You can take a hot bath or shower or use heating pads or blankets to relieve your pain.
If your body aches are due to the flu or illness, they may clear up on their own in a few days or improve with home remedies. If your body aches persist or get worse, talk to your primary care physician (PCP). It could be a sign of a more serious infection or a side effect from a medication you’re taking.
If your body aches are due to a chronic illness, you may need more intensive treatment. In addition to over-the-counter medications, you can treat your body aches with other treatments, such as physical and occupational therapy, acupuncture, dietary changes, and stress management. You should also try to avoid activities that strain your aching muscles, as this can make them more sore. You should also try to relax and stay positive, as this can help you feel better. Managing your symptoms can help you cope with them and live your life to the fullest.
It’s hard to get through life without straining a muscle, spraining a ligament or suffering a headache. While over-the-counter pain relievers can help, sometimes a little extra care is needed. Using ice to reduce inflammation and numb the pain can provide significant relief for many types of body aches.
Ice packs, a bag of frozen vegetables or simply dampening a washcloth in cold water and placing it over a sore joint or muscle can help alleviate body aches by controlling swelling and acting as a local anesthetic to reduce pain signals from the area to the brain. Ice treatment is especially helpful for acute injuries, such as a sprained ankle or pulled knee muscle. The ice pack constricts blood vessels and decreases fluid buildup, which helps with the healing process and minimizes bruising.
Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the painful area for 20-30 minutes, four times a day, or even hourly if desired. Be sure to use a cloth or towel to prevent direct contact between the ice and skin, as prolonged exposure can cause frostbite.
The icing method is also effective for treating a sore muscle from an intense workout. When muscles work, they produce chemical byproducts that must be eliminated from the body, often causing muscle aches. Increasing the blood flow to the affected area through ice therapy can help eliminate these chemicals and alleviate a sore, stiff muscle.
In addition to using ice, staying hydrated and getting enough rest are other helpful ways to treat body aches. For example, drinking a glass of water every time you feel thirsty can help keep your body well hydrated and may prevent muscle spasms and stiff joints. Incorporating a daily massage or even taking a warm shower can also help ease stiff joints and sore muscles.
Body aches are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. They can be a sign that you are sick, overstressed or have an underlying medical condition. In some cases, body aches are just the result of overexertion or general wear and tear. Regardless of the cause, the first step in body ache treatment is to narrow down the source.
Drink plenty of fluids to keep your cells hydrated, which helps to prevent muscle dehydration and reduce inflammation caused by body aches. Staying hydrated also helps your muscles to contract less often, which reduces the tension that can cause body aches.
Applying heat to sore muscles and joints can provide pain relief from body aches. The warm water or heat opens your blood vessels, which allows more oxygen to flow into the area and reduces the lactic acid build up that can cause aches. Heat is particularly effective for lingering back or neck pain from muscle tightness that has built up over time.
You can apply heat to the affected area using a hot shower or bath, a heating pad or by wrapping yourself in a warm blanket. It is important to avoid hot tubs or saunas if you have a fever or are experiencing shivering as these may make your symptoms worse.
If your body aches persist for more than a few days, or you experience severe or persistent pain along with other symptoms, it is important to see your doctor. They can help you work out a plan to relieve your symptoms and get you back to feeling your best. Usually, mild body aches can be relieved with rest, hydration and OTC medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Over-the-counter medications are medicines you can buy without a prescription, and they help treat many minor health problems. They include pain relievers, cold and flu medicines, antihistamines, stomach acid reducers and some skin creams. These medications are on the General Sales List (GSL) and are sold at pharmacies, shops and supermarkets. They are generally safe to take for most people for short periods of time if you follow the instructions on the medicine label.
Two types of OTC pain medicines are available: acetaminophen, which treats headaches and fever but does not reduce inflammation; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs are usually more effective than acetaminophen at treating muscle and joint pain caused by exercise, arthritis or the common cold or flu.
Some NSAIDs are combined with an opioid, which makes the medication more potent. You should take these only as directed, because too much can damage your liver or kidneys. For example, don’t take more than 16 pills a day of ibuprofen or naproxen.
You can also find these medications in combination with other products, such as decongestants and cold medicines. Check the labels of these products carefully to make sure you are not taking too much of one kind of medicine, and that you are not mixing NSAIDs with aspirin. Taking too much aspirin can lead to Reye’s syndrome in children under 16.
You can also get topical pain relievers that you apply directly to your skin. These may contain ingredients like aspirin, lidocaine and capsaicin pepper, which block pain signals from your brain. These can be bought as creams, gels and sprays.
Body aches are often short-term and harmless, but they may be a symptom of an illness or chronic condition. If you’ve been experiencing body aches for a prolonged period of time, see your doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Chronic conditions that can cause body aches include fibromyalgia, which is an oversensitivity to pain, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is a painful condition caused by joint inflammation. Other causes of body aches include infection, such as the flu or cold, and stress.
Getting enough rest and drinking plenty of fluids can help relieve aching joints. Getting more sleep can also improve your immune system’s ability to fight off infections and heal itself. You can also use heat to soothe aching muscles. Taking a warm bath or shower, using heating pads or blankets, and having a hot cup of tea can all ease muscle tension and loosen sore muscles.
If you’re suffering from a viral illness like the flu, the common cold, or COVID-19 and your symptoms don’t clear up after a few days, it’s important to see your doctor for evaluation. They can diagnose your condition and prescribe medications to reduce your symptoms.
If you’re dealing with long-term, persistent body aches, your doctor might refer you to a specialist, such as a rheumatologist, who can provide physical therapy and recommend medication to ease the pain. Other treatments for achy joints might include lifestyle changes, such as reducing your stress levels, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen, or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. In some cases, your doctor might recommend cognitive behavioral therapy to help you deal with the emotional impact of the condition.
Body aches are common when you have the flu, a cold or a viral infection. They are the result of your immune system releasing white blood cells to fight the illness, which causes inflammation and leaves you feeling achy.
Body aches from a virus usually go away on their own or improve with home remedies. If you have chronic or persistent aches, talk to your doctor.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in muscles and soft tissues all over the body. It may cause other problems, such as sleep problems, depression, headaches, and fatigue. No one knows what causes it. But researchers think it’s linked to sleep problems, stress, and immune, endocrine, or biochemical problems.
You may feel the pain in many places, including your arms, buttocks, chest, knees, neck, rib cage, shoulders, and hips. You may also have other symptoms, such as difficulty thinking (brain fog), headaches, and trouble getting warm or cold. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but treatment can help ease your symptoms. Treatment usually includes medicine, exercise, relaxation, heat or cold, and massage.
The doctor will check your health history and ask you questions about your symptoms. She or he will want to rule out other things that could be causing the pain, such as an underactive thyroid, different types of arthritis, and lupus. You may get blood tests and X-rays.
If you have fibromyalgia, the best treatment is probably regular exercise. Your doctor can give you suggestions on how to start an exercise program. You can do exercises at home or in a gym. These can include aerobic exercise, such as walking or swimming, and strength training. Your doctor may also recommend tai chi or yoga. Studies show that these forms of exercise are more effective than other types of workouts for people with fibromyalgia.
Your doctor will prescribe medicines to reduce pain and other symptoms. You may take an antidepressant, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), pregabalin (Lyrica), or milnacipran (Savella). Your doctor might also suggest a muscle relaxant. Taking a combination of medicines can improve your mood and help you sleep better. If you have sleep apnea, your doctor might suggest an overnight sleep study.
Other treatments to help your symptoms include physical therapy, counseling, and self-management techniques. For example, you might try not smoking, following a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. You should also try to avoid stress and learn coping skills. These are all important parts of your treatment plan.
Joints are the points where bones touch, connecting the skeletal system. They allow movement, but can also be painful if they become inflamed or damaged. Joint pain may be achy, stiff or swollen and can affect a single joint, or multiple joints. Some types of joint pain include gout, bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
The first thing a doctor will do to diagnose joint pain is to ask the patient questions and do a physical exam. They will look at the joint in question to see if it is swollen, warm or red and how much movement it can make. They will also check the surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments. If they suspect that the joint pain is from an autoimmune disease, they may order blood tests. X-rays will also be ordered to see the extent of any damage or inflammation in the affected joint.
Acute joint pain is usually achy, stiff or sore and can come and go. It is usually worse when the affected person moves the joint. Chronic joint pain is achy, stiff or sore all the time and may get worse over time. The pain can be achy, burning, throbbing or sharp. It can occur in any joint, but is most common in the knees, hips or hands.
If the aching is due to an injury or overuse of the joint, treatment usually involves resting it and avoiding activities that cause pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol can help reduce the pain and swelling. Other treatments include icing the affected area for about 15 minutes several times a day and using a brace or wrap to support the joint. It is also a good idea to try alternative therapies such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture.
If the aching is caused by an infection or an autoimmune disease, the doctor will prescribe drugs to treat it. For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis may need to take drugs that suppress the immune system or glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation. In severe cases, surgery to remove the joint or drain any fluid from the affected area might be needed.
Muscle pain, also called myalgia, is a common feeling that can involve one or more muscles or groups of muscles. It may feel like a dull, deep ache or a stabbing, burning or throbbing sensation that can occur anywhere in the body. It can be a result of exercise, an illness, a medication or injury.
Aches in the muscles are a normal part of the healing process for injuries such as strains and sprains. However, if the pain is severe and continues for several days, contact your physician because this is not a good sign.
If you experience muscle pain that is accompanied by swelling, limited movement or bruising, the problem could be a severe muscle tear or a ligament or tendon injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may need surgery or physical therapy.
The location of the muscle pain is also important. If it is localized to a single muscle group, it may be caused by a condition called pymositis. This is when the immune system attacks a group of muscles that can be found in the thigh, calf and buttocks. A more serious cause of this type of muscle pain is a blood vessel problem, which means that the muscles aren’t getting enough blood to function properly.
Medications are used to treat a variety of conditions that can lead to muscle pain, including some types of antibiotics and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Gentle stretches, heat or cold compresses or massage can help relieve muscle aches and improve flexibility. Sleep, proper hydration and healthy eating can also prevent or treat muscle pain.
The best way to prevent aching muscles is to stretch before and after exercise and to rest after vigorous activity. If you aren’t used to vigorous exercise, it is also important to gradually build up your level of activity. In addition, it is important to take precautions when exercising such as wearing comfortable clothing and using proper technique. Muscle aches and soreness can be a normal part of life but it is important to talk to your doctor if the pain becomes severe or does not go away.
The flu can cause body aches as well as other symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle or joint pain, a runny nose and sneezing. The body aches you feel when you have the flu are because your immune system is releasing chemicals that help fight off the infection. These same chemicals also cause muscle pain. The flu is a serious illness that may require treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications such as pneumonia.
The first symptom of the flu that you will probably notice is a high fever, which can range from about 102 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The flu usually starts suddenly, often in the middle of the day. Other symptoms include chills, muscle or joint aches, a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and a cough. In some cases, the cough can become productive and you may cough up mucus or phlegm that is foul-smelling or green in color.
A common cold typically consists of a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and headache, but the aches are not as severe as with the flu. A common cold can also be accompanied by a dry hacking cough or a sinus infection. A loss of taste or smell, which is often called anosmia, can occur with a common cold as well as a feeling of all-over fatigue that persists for two weeks or more.
Mild body aches that improve with rest, hydration and over-the-counter pain medications are not a reason to see your doctor. However, if your aches last more than 2 weeks or you have other symptoms such as fever, chills, a skin rash, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, then it is a good idea to call your doctor. If the aches are caused by a health condition or medication, your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan. This will usually include medications such as statins or antidepressants. In some cases, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic if the problem is bacterial such as a tick bite or Lyme disease, which can be treated with an oral anti-biotic. If the ache is due to a viral infection, your doctor may prescribe a cough suppressant or an antiviral drug such as oseltamivir or zanamivir.