What are the common causes of muscle aches. How can you treat muscle pain at home. When should you seek medical attention for muscle soreness. What are the best prevention methods for muscle aches. How do different conditions contribute to muscle pain. What role does exercise play in managing muscle discomfort. How can lifestyle changes alleviate muscle aches.

The Nature and Prevalence of Muscle Aches

Muscle aches, also known as myalgia, are a widespread experience that can affect multiple muscles simultaneously. These discomforts extend beyond just the muscle fibers, often involving the surrounding connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and fascia. Fascia, in particular, plays a crucial role as it connects muscles, bones, and organs, forming an intricate network throughout the body.

The frequency of muscle aches makes them a common concern for many individuals. They can range from mild discomfort to severe pain, impacting daily activities and quality of life. Understanding the nature of muscle aches is the first step in effectively managing and treating them.

Differentiating Muscle Aches from Other Pain Types

How do muscle aches differ from other types of pain? Muscle aches typically present as a dull, persistent discomfort that can be localized or widespread. Unlike sharp, acute pains associated with injuries, muscle aches often have a gradual onset and may worsen with movement or pressure. This distinguishing characteristic helps in identifying muscle-related pain from other sources of discomfort in the body.

Common Causes of Muscle Aches and Pains

Muscle aches can stem from various sources, ranging from everyday activities to underlying medical conditions. Some of the most frequent causes include:

• Tension and stress
• Overuse or excessive physical exertion
• Muscle injuries from exercise or demanding physical work
• Poor posture or prolonged periods in one position
• Dehydration
• Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality

In addition to these common causes, muscle aches can also be a symptom of systemic conditions affecting the entire body. Infections like influenza or conditions such as lupus, which impacts connective tissues throughout the body, can manifest as muscle pain.

The Role of Fibromyalgia in Muscle Pain

Fibromyalgia deserves special mention when discussing muscle aches. This chronic condition is characterized by widespread muscle pain, tenderness in soft tissues, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and headaches. It’s a complex disorder that can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life and requires a comprehensive approach to management.

Medical Conditions Associated with Muscle Aches

While many muscle aches are benign and temporary, some may be indicative of underlying medical conditions. These include:

1. Dermatomyositis: An inflammatory condition affecting skin and muscles
2. Polymyositis: An inflammatory disease causing muscle weakness
3. Lupus: An autoimmune disease affecting various body systems
4. Lyme disease: A tick-borne illness that can cause muscle pain
5. Rhabdomyolysis: A serious condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue
6. Polymyalgia rheumatica: An inflammatory disorder causing muscle pain and stiffness

Recognizing when muscle pain might be linked to these conditions is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment. Persistent or severe muscle pain, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, should prompt a consultation with a healthcare provider.

The Impact of Medications and Substances on Muscle Health

Certain medications and substances can contribute to or exacerbate muscle aches. These include:

• ACE inhibitors: Commonly used for blood pressure management
• Statins: Cholesterol-lowering medications
• Cocaine: A recreational drug with significant health risks
• Alcohol: Excessive consumption can lead to muscle weakness and pain

Understanding the potential side effects of medications and the impact of substances on muscle health is essential for both patients and healthcare providers. It allows for informed decisions about treatment options and lifestyle choices.

Electrolyte Imbalances and Muscle Function

How do electrolyte imbalances affect muscle health? Electrolytes, such as potassium and calcium, play a crucial role in muscle function. Imbalances in these essential minerals can lead to muscle weakness, cramping, and pain. Maintaining proper hydration and a balanced diet rich in electrolytes is vital for optimal muscle health and function.

Effective Home Remedies for Muscle Aches

For muscle pain resulting from overuse or minor injuries, several home remedies can provide relief:

• Rest: Allow the affected area time to recover
• Ice therapy: Apply ice for the first 24 to 72 hours to reduce inflammation
• Heat therapy: After the initial inflammation subsides, heat can soothe sore muscles
• Over-the-counter pain relievers: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help manage pain
• Gentle stretching: Once pain subsides, light stretching can promote flexibility and healing
• Massage: Can help relax tense muscles and improve circulation

These home remedies are often effective for minor muscle aches. However, persistent or severe pain should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out more serious conditions.

The Benefits of Massage for Muscle Recovery

Why is massage particularly effective for muscle aches? Massage therapy can help alleviate muscle pain by increasing blood flow to the affected areas, reducing muscle tension, and promoting relaxation. It’s especially beneficial for muscle aches related to overuse and conditions like fibromyalgia. Regular massage sessions can be an integral part of a comprehensive muscle care routine.

Exercise and Physical Activity in Managing Muscle Pain

Regular exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining muscle health and preventing aches. Here’s how different types of activities can benefit muscle health:

• Aerobic exercises: Walking, cycling, and swimming help improve overall muscle tone and circulation
• Stretching: Enhances flexibility and reduces the risk of muscle strain
• Strength training: Builds muscle resilience and improves posture
• Yoga: Combines stretching with mindfulness, reducing both physical and mental tension

It’s important to start any new exercise regimen gradually and listen to your body to avoid overexertion. A balanced approach to physical activity can significantly reduce the occurrence of muscle aches and improve overall well-being.

The Importance of Proper Warm-up and Cool-down

How do warm-up and cool-down routines impact muscle health? Proper warm-up exercises prepare your muscles for physical activity by increasing blood flow and flexibility, reducing the risk of injury. Cool-down routines, on the other hand, help your body transition back to a resting state, promoting muscle recovery and reducing post-exercise soreness. Incorporating these practices into your exercise routine is essential for maintaining healthy muscles and preventing aches.

Lifestyle Factors Influencing Muscle Health

Several lifestyle factors can significantly impact muscle health and the occurrence of aches:

1. Sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for muscle recovery and overall health
2. Stress management: Chronic stress can lead to muscle tension and pain
3. Hydration: Proper fluid intake supports muscle function and prevents cramping
4. Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals supports muscle health
5. Posture: Maintaining good posture reduces unnecessary strain on muscles

Addressing these lifestyle factors can have a profound impact on reducing the frequency and severity of muscle aches. Making small, consistent changes in daily habits can lead to significant improvements in muscle health over time.

The Role of Stress in Muscle Tension

How does stress contribute to muscle aches? Chronic stress can lead to persistent muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back. This prolonged tension can result in pain and discomfort. Implementing stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or regular physical activity can help alleviate stress-related muscle tension and promote overall muscle relaxation.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Muscle Pain

While many muscle aches can be managed at home, certain situations warrant medical attention:

• Severe pain that doesn’t improve with rest and home remedies
• Muscle pain accompanied by a high fever or rash
• Muscle weakness or inability to move the affected area
• Signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or warmth around the painful area
• Muscle pain that occurs after starting a new medication
• Unexplained muscle pain that persists for an extended period

In these cases, a healthcare provider can perform a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of the muscle pain and recommend appropriate treatment options. Early intervention can prevent complications and ensure proper management of any underlying conditions.

Diagnostic Approaches for Persistent Muscle Pain

What diagnostic methods are used to evaluate chronic muscle pain? Healthcare providers may employ various diagnostic tools to assess persistent muscle pain, including physical examinations, blood tests to check for inflammation or muscle damage markers, imaging studies like MRI or CT scans, and in some cases, muscle biopsies. These diagnostic approaches help identify the root cause of muscle pain, enabling targeted and effective treatment strategies.

Preventive Measures and Long-term Muscle Health

Preventing muscle aches involves a combination of good habits and proactive measures:

1. Regular exercise to maintain muscle strength and flexibility
2. Proper hydration before, during, and after physical activities
3. Gradual increase in exercise intensity to avoid overexertion
4. Use of proper techniques and equipment during physical activities
5. Regular stretching, especially for those with sedentary lifestyles
6. Maintaining good posture throughout the day
7. Adequate rest and recovery between workouts

Implementing these preventive measures can significantly reduce the likelihood of experiencing muscle aches and contribute to long-term muscle health. It’s about creating a balanced lifestyle that supports your muscles in all daily activities.

The Importance of Ergonomics in Preventing Muscle Strain

How does ergonomics play a role in preventing muscle aches? Proper ergonomics, especially in workplace settings, can prevent unnecessary strain on muscles. This includes using ergonomic chairs and desks, maintaining proper posture while sitting or standing, and taking regular breaks to move and stretch. Implementing ergonomic principles in daily life can significantly reduce the risk of developing chronic muscle pain, particularly for those who spend long hours in fixed positions.

Muscle aches Information | Mount Sinai

Muscle pain; Myalgia; Pain – muscles

Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia. Fascias are the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones, and organs.

Muscle pain is most frequently related to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or physically demanding work. Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle at the same time. Muscle pain can also involve the soft tissues that surround muscles. These structures, which are often referred to as connective tissues, include ligaments, tendons, and fascia (thick bands of tendons).

Muscular atrophy is the decrease in size and wasting of muscle tissue. Muscles that lose their nerve supply can atrophy and simply waste away.

Considerations

Muscle pain is most often related to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or hard physical work. The pain tends to involve specific muscles and starts during or just after the activity. It is often obvious which activity is causing the pain.

Muscle pain also can be a sign of conditions affecting your whole body. For example, some infections (including the flu) and disorders that affect connective tissues throughout the body (such as lupus) can cause muscle pain.

One common cause of muscle aches and pain is fibromyalgia, a condition that causes tenderness in your muscles and surrounding soft tissue, sleep difficulties, fatigue, and headaches.

Causes

The most common causes of muscle aches and pains are:

• Injury or trauma, including sprains and strains
• Overuse including using a muscle too much, too soon before warming up, or too often
• Tension or stress

Muscle pain may also be due to:

• Certain drugs, including ACE inhibitors for lowering blood pressure, cocaine, and statins for lowering cholesterol
• Dermatomyositis
• Electrolyte imbalance, such as too little potassium or calcium
• Fibromyalgia
• Infections, including the flu, Lyme disease, malaria, muscle abscess, polio, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, trichinosis (roundworm)
• Lupus
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Polymyositis
• Rhabdomyolysis

Home Care

For muscle pain from overuse or injury, rest the affected body part and take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Apply ice for the first 24 to 72 hours after injury to reduce pain and inflammation. After that, heat often feels more soothing.

Muscle aches from overuse and fibromyalgia often respond well to massage. Gentle stretching exercises after a long rest period are also helpful.

Regular exercise can help restore proper muscle tone. Walking, cycling, and swimming are good aerobic activities to try. A physical therapist can teach you stretching, toning, and aerobic exercises to help you feel better and stay pain-free. Begin slowly and increase workouts gradually. Avoid high-impact aerobic activities and weight lifting when injured or while in pain.

Be sure to get plenty of sleep and try to reduce stress. Yoga and meditation are excellent ways to help you sleep and relax.

If home measures aren’t working, your health care provider may prescribe medicine or physical therapy. You may need to be seen at a specialized pain clinic.

If your muscle aches are due to a specific disease, do the things your provider has told you to treat the underlying condition.

These steps may help lower the risk for getting muscle aches:

• Stretch before and after exercising.
• Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.
• Drink lots of fluids before, during, and after exercise.
• If you work in the same position most of the day (such as sitting at a computer), stretch at least every hour.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

• Your muscle pain lasts more than 3 days.
• You have severe, unexplained pain.
• You have any sign of infection, such as swelling or redness around the tender muscle.
• You have poor circulation in the area where you have muscles aches (for example, in your legs).
• You have a tick bite or a rash.
• Your muscle pain is linked with starting or changing doses of a medicine, such as a statin.

Call 911 or the local emergency number if:

• You have sudden weight gain, water retention, or you are urinating less than usual.
• You are short of breath or have difficulty swallowing.
• You have muscle weakness or cannot move any part of your body.
• You are vomiting, or have a very stiff neck or high fever.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your muscle pain, such as:

• When did it start? How long does it last?
• Where is it exactly? Is it all over or only in a specific area?
• Is it always in the same location?
• What makes it better or worse?
• Do other symptoms occur at the same time, like joint pain, fever, vomiting, weakness, malaise (a general feeling of discomfort or weakness), or difficulty using the affected muscle?
• Is there a pattern to the muscle aches?
• Have you taken any new medicines lately?

Tests that may be done include:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Other blood tests to look at muscle enzymes (creatine kinase) and possibly a test for Lyme disease or a connective tissue disorder

Best TM, Asplund CA. Exercise physiology. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. eds. DeLee, Drez, and Miller’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 6.

Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and myofascial pain. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 258.

Parekh R. Rhabdomyolysis. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 119.

Last reviewed on: 5/3/2021

Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Body Pain: What Does It Mean When Your Whole Body Aches?

Reviewed By Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD on 2/2/2022

Why Does My Whole Body Ache?

Does your whole body ache? There can be many possible reasons. An aching body makes every activity more difficult, from getting through your daily grind to going to sleep at night. Sometimes our bodies ache from hard work or exercise, but at other times the causes of muscle aches can be more complex and associated with other symptoms. If you or someone you know has been suffering from body aches, this guide can help you understand some of the underlying problems that may be causing them. From arthritis to fibromyalgia to the common flu, there are many underlying causes of body aches, so read on to learn what they are, as well as getting a few tips for easing whole-body aches.

Influenza

Influenza, also known simply as the flu, is a viral infection that infects your lungs, nose, and throat. The flu can cause body aches and muscle pain.

Why Does the Flu Cause Muscle Soreness?

When you’re aching all over and you have the flu, there’s a reason. Your body aches because it is releasing chemicals to help fight off the infection. One of the chemicals produced by your immune system is called prostaglandin (PG). PG helps your body fight the infection, but it also causes body aches. It can bring on other symptoms like fever, too.

Aspirin and other non-steroidal pain relievers like ibuprofen can alleviate body aches and fever when you have a flu because they interfere with the production of PG. The enzyme that produces PG resembles a crystal with a tube through the middle. Aspirin and ibuprofen plug up the tube, stopping the production of PG.

COVID-19 Body Aches

Muscle and body aches are symptoms of COVID-19, according to the CDC. However, not everyone who is infected with COVID-19 experiences body aches. This is also true of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Anyone who has had COVID-19, including those who have had a mild infection, may experience post-COVID conditions that may include muscle and body pain, as well as stomach and chest pain. These symptoms may last for weeks to months following a COVID-19 infection.

Thyroid Problems

If you suffer from hypothyroidism, body aches can be the first symptoms you experience. Hypothyroidism is the disorder that occurs when a person’s body is not producing enough thyroid hormone. This can have several symptoms, and among these are muscle cramping, aching, stiff joints, and body aches. Sometimes the aching is vague and nonspecific.

Biochemical hypothyroidism is relatively common in the United States, affecting an estimated 4.6% of the population. The good news is that this thyroid problem is treatable with prescription drugs, which can restore your hormone level to normal and will help relieve fatigue and aches. These medications need to be taken throughout life, and they can prevent dangerous consequences of the condition, which on the extreme side can include coma and death.

Poor Circulation

If you notice an aching pain in your legs after a walk, it could be a circulation problem. Claudication (typically, obstruction of an artery) causes burning, cramping, or pain in one or both legs that is relieved after resting. It is caused by atherosclerosis, a condition that narrows and hardens the arteries through plaque buildup.

People diagnosed with this condition may be put on medication or recommended to walk more frequently, as well as to stop smoking and reduce saturated fats from their diets. There are minimally invasive treatments as well, including angioplasty, stents, and more. Surgical treatments may be necessary if symptoms are severe.

Lupus

The aching you feel in your joints may be related to the autoimmune disease known as lupus. Lupus causes your immune system to attack healthy tissues, which can make you ache all over. During a bout of lupus, your body becomes inflamed throughout. Part of the inflammation process involves a thickening of the lining around your joints. This makes your joints and tendons swell and causes body aches.

Some lupus patients describe this agony as being similar to arthritis. Unlike arthritis, though, lupus usually does not cause permanent damage to your bones and joints.

The first line of defense for this type of discomfort is over-the-counter medicine. Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen can bring relief. Heating pads and warm baths and showers can also ease stiff joints.

Arthritis

One out of every four American adults has arthritis, one of the most common causes of chronic pain. Arthritis is a catch-all diagnosis that includes more than 100 diseases affecting joints and muscles.

The most common of these is osteoarthritis, which slowly breaks down the bones and cartilage that make up one or more joints. Along with body aches, osteoarthritis causes stiffness, swelling, and limits the movements of the joints it impacts

There are ways to manage arthritis. Some of these include medication, weight loss, and exercising in appropriate ways. Education is available through the arthritis self-management program, which was developed by Stanford School of Medicine and is offered in community settings such as churches and hospitals.

See Rashes on Eyelids?

If your musculoskeletal pain comes bundled with eyelid rashes, you could be in the grips of dermatomyositis. This is an autoimmune disease that causes general aching because it inflames the blood vessels beneath your skin. It can make it hard to swallow, and to stand up from a seated position. Common symptoms include fatigue and rashes. These can be red or purple, and they tend to itch. And they don’t just appear on eyelids; dermatomyositis rashes may appear on cheeks, elbows, knees, knuckles, the back, or the upper chest.

Your doctor might prescribe medications like corticosteroids to control the symptoms. There are exercises that can be learned to keep your strength and flexibility up as well, and therapies to control the swallowing problems that can result from this disease. Purified blood products can be offered as injections, and these can stop the damage to your muscles and skin for a time. But they need to be administered regularly and they are expensive.

Fibromyalgia Pain Points

Fibromyalgia causes body pain. The hallmark symptom of fibromyalgia is significant muscle pain, stiffness, and tenderness all over your body. Headaches, numb hands and feet, and abdominal pain are other agonizing indications a person may have this affliction.

For reasons that aren’t well understood, people with fibromyalgia are more sensitive to pain. That goes for the estimated 5 million American adults who suffer from the disorder. About 80% to 90% of them are women. For some of these people, fibromyalgia is so debilitating that they can’t get out of bed. For others, the body aches come and go, bringing both good days and bad days.

Fibromyalgia has been famously difficult to understand as a disease. We still don’t know what causes the condition. To be diagnosed, however, a standard scoring system has been developed. A person must experience widespread pain in all four quadrants of their body and other illnesses need to be ruled out.

Muscle Weakness From Polymyositis

Those who suffer from polymyositis (PM) experience weakness in their shoulders, neck, and back, as well as their hips and thighs. The weakness may come on gradually over the course of several months or may degenerate over a few days. Sometimes body aches and tenderness come with it, too. Although PM can cause a lot of discomfort, it is usually not life-threatening.

For unknown reasons, polymyositis causes your body’s immune system to attack muscle fibers. It comes on after age 20 typically and is more common in women. The good news is that over time, many people recover partially or completely from PM.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Along with extreme exhaustion, people with chronic fatigue syndrome often experience common symptoms like deep, persistent joint and muscle pain. Their skin might feel sore when touched, and pressure headaches can also result.

In addition to pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, the Center for Disease Control recommends stretching, gentle massage, heat, hydrotherapy, and relaxation techniques to ease the hurting. Pain management counseling may be in order, too, if the pain is constant.

For years, chronic fatigue was a poorly understood syndrome that frustrated doctors and patients alike. Although the cause of chronic fatigue remains elusive, medical experts are increasingly convinced that this debilitating condition goes beyond mere lethargy, and that its roots are physiological.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

If you’ve experienced stiff joints and aching in your upper arms, neck, thighs, and lower back that is worse in the morning, you may have a bout of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). This whole-body pain usually comes on quickly, sometimes even overnight, and it can make it difficult to raise your arms over your shoulders.

PMR’s cause is not yet understood. What we do know is that it seems to originate in the joints, and unlike fibromyalgia, PMR causes inflammation. It is most common among Caucasians over age 50, with the average age of a PMR patient being age 70 and is more common in women than in men.

Unfortunately, the usual anti-inflammatory pain medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen do not offer much help in the case of PMR. Instead, doctors are more likely to prescribe corticosteroids. If PMR is the problem, these drugs can respond quickly and dramatically, sometimes easing a patient’s pain after a single dose. This isn’t always the case, however, and treatment may take longer in some instances to ease inflammation.

Tick Bites

If you experience muscle pain within two weeks of being bitten by a tick, you may have contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) caused by Rickettsia rickettsii that are transmitted during the tick bite. Since tick bites can be painless, you may not realize you’ve been bitten, but the presence of a fever and a rash on your wrists and ankles may confirm the disease.

RMSF is serious. People can die a little over a week after symptoms begin. Fortunately, it is also treatable with antibiotics. However, if a case of RMSF is severe, long-term health problems can result, including blood vessel damage (vasculitis) and clotting and bleeding in the brain and other organs. Treatment is most effective if it begins within the first five days that symptoms and signs of RMSF first show themselves.

Bull’s Eye Rash?

If you notice joint pain within a month of a tick bite, that could be Lyme disease. When Lyme disease was discovered in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975, researchers believed they were dealing with juvenile arthritis at first. The symptoms can resemble arthritis, with swelling joints in the later stages and commonly joint pain throughout.

So how can you tell if you’re dealing with Lyme disease or arthritis? One absolute sign of Lyme is a large rash around the bite itself, which can either be solid red or a bull’s-eye pattern. This is a major warning that you need fast treatment, and it occurs in about nine out of every 10 cases. Other common symptoms of the infection include swollen lymph glands, headaches, dizziness, shooting pains, numbness, tingling, and a generally achy feeling. Lyme disease is caused when the bacteria, Borrelia burgdoferi, are transmitted by the tick bite.

Prescription Medication

Statins

A common medication used to treat high cholesterol has been linked with muscle and joint aches in 20% to 30% of those who take it. Statins are widely used to help prevent arterial plaque that can lead to heart disease and other cardiovascular dangers, and are prescribed to about one in four Americans over age 45. Why statins cause pain may come down to an energy-producing coenzyme called Q10. Scientists have found that statins reduce the body’s natural stock of coenzyme Q10. Does it help to take coenzyme Q10 supplements? Study results have been mixed, so talk to your doctor to find out if it might be helpful for you.

Why statins cause pain may come down to an energy-producing coenzyme called Q10. Scientists have found that statins reduce the body’s natural stock of coenzyme Q10. Does it help to take coenzyme Q10 supplements? Study results have been mixed, so talk to your doctor to find out if it might be helpful for you.

Opiates

The drug class known for deadening pain can also cause it in some cases. Long-term opiate use and addiction can cause an effect known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). OIH actually makes your body more sensitive to pain. It’s possible that taking opioids suppresses your body’s natural painkilling functions, leaving users vulnerable to pain after the effect of the drug wears off.

Stress

Stress and anxiety can cause a variety of physical pain. These include jaw, neck, chest, stomach, and back pain, as well as headaches and muscle spasms.

Body soreness caused by anxiety disorders can be managed. Getting the right balance of sleep, exercise, and proper nutrition into your daily life can go a long way. There are also relaxation techniques that can be beneficial, such as meditation and breathing training. Sometimes medications treat this problem as well and vary from patient to patient. Some medications that can help include SSRIs, MAOIs, and tricyclic antidepressants.

Depression

Depression can make pain longer-lasting and more severe. And the worse a person experiences pain, the more likely they are to be depressed and the more severe their depression tends to be. Bodily soreness is a common complaint for those diagnosed with depression, so much so that nearly 70% of patients diagnosed with depression came to visit a doctor with only physical symptoms according to one large survey. The reasoning behind this is complex.

Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that send messages from one nerve cell to another. The neurotransmitters that respond to both mood and pain are the same: serotonin and norepinephrine. That’s why antidepressants are sometimes prescribed to people with chronic pain. Other treatments may include psychotherapy, pain rehabilitation, and a variety of lifestyle changes like exercise, meditation, and journaling.

Insomnia Makes it Worse

It’s easy to understand how living in agony can disrupt a good night’s sleep. When we hurt, it can be so distracting that settling in for sleep becomes difficult. What’s a little more difficult to understand is how lack of sleep can make painful problems even worse. Some studies indicate that poor sleep causes you to feel pain more intensely. The reasons for this haven’t been determined. But if it’s so, then a good night’s sleep could help ease your pain — and easing your pain could help you get better sleep as well.

Inactivity

The saying “no pain, no gain” is often heard around the gym. But studies show the opposite may actually be true. According to one study of about 40,000 Norwegian adults, those who exercised more than three times a week were 28% less likely to experience chronic musculoskeletal complaints. Those who work out regularly were 50% less likely to experience painful symptoms for more than 15 days out of a given month.

Another study in Great Britain asked more than 2,000 adults whether they had experienced pain in the past month, and whether they had exercised in the past month. Those who experienced “some pain” were 70% less likely to have exercised as much as others their own age, and those who experienced widespread chronic pain were more than four times less likely. What neither of these studies shows, however, is whether body aches lead to inactivity, or inactivity leads to body aches.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Every part of your body has a receptor for vitamin D, from your bones to your muscles to your brain cells. And there seems to be a relationship between very low levels of vitamin D and chronic pain. Which one causes the other is up for debate, but since it has other health benefits some researchers believe vitamin D supplements make sense if someone has chronic pain. Whether or not the supplements bring relief is up for debate.

Arthritis suffers should be particularly concerned for two reasons. For one, vitamin D maintains blood calcium, keeping bones hard and strong. For another, corticosteroids (a common arthritis treatment) seem to reduce your body’s vitamin D levels.

To get more vitamin D in the summertime is easy. Simply by exposing 50% of your skin to sunlight for about 15 minutes, your body produces the necessary vitamin D for a daily dose. This could be more difficult in the winter, particularly in northern areas with very little sunlight. For people who can’t stand outside in the sun, fatty fish provides a high amount of vitamin D, and raw fish offers even more. Many grains and cereals are vitamin D-fortified as well.

Treatment for Chronic Pain

While chronic pain has many causes, the good news is that you don’t need to suffer. There are plenty of ways to seek relief from ongoing agony. Some approaches are more effective than others, so talk to your doctor about what treatments would be best for you. They include:

• Relaxation therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Biofeedback
• Behavior modification
• Tai chi
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Meditation
• Self-management programs

Dehydration

Dehydration is the loss of fluids due to diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or excess urination. You need sufficient water in your body to maintain blood volume, digest food, regulate body temperature, and many other important functions. If you lose water and electrolytes, it could give you body aches. How do you know if you’re dehydrated? Signs and symptoms include dry mouth, fatigue, sunken eyes, reduced urination, extreme thirst, dark-colored urine, dizziness, and confusion. If you are experiencing symptoms of severe dehydration and aren’t able to get or keep fluids down, you may need to get IV fluids to rehydrate.

The Common Cold

Fever, muscle aches, runny nose, stuffy nose, chills, headaches, and fatigue are typical flu symptoms, but they can happen with the common cold as well. However, it’s usually the severity of the symptoms that differentiates the two. Flu-like symptoms tend to be more severe than symptoms of a cold. If you have a cold or a flu, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Home remedies like chicken soup may help. Seek medical attention if you have severe symptoms. Certain tests can be performed within the first couple of days that you’re sick that indicate if you have the flu and thus rule out a cold.

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma. The fungus lives in soil that is contaminated by large amounts of droppings from birds and bats. People may become infected with Histoplasma by inhaling airborne fungal spores. Affected individuals may experience coughing, fatigue, fever, and body aches. People who get histoplasmosis usually get better without treatment, but in some cases those who have a weakened immune system may experience severe symptoms. Many people who inhale spores don’t experience any symptoms. The fungus is found in the eastern and central parts of the United States as well as in areas in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and Central America.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is muscle pain and stiffness that occurs approximately 1 to 2 days following doing a new or strenuous type of exercise. Pain occurs due to microscopic trauma to muscles that happens during lengthening activities during exercise. An example of an eccentric exercise would be uncurling the biceps after lifting a weight. OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and massage may be helpful in alleviating delayed onset muscle soreness. Take a break if you are experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness and allow your body to rest and recover. Always get your doctor’s approval for beginning an exercise program and start any new types of exercise slowly and build up your activity levels as you get stronger.

Trigger Points

Trigger points are tender areas of muscle that cause pain. The areas where this occurs have decreased circulation, increased contraction, and spasm. Heightened nerve sensitivity causes pain. Tender points may be associated with tinnitus, tension headaches, low back pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and decreased range of motion in affected areas. Muscle areas affected by trigger points feel hard to the touch compared to surrounding areas. They may also cause pain in areas further away. This is known as referred pain. Trigger point injections are an effective treatment for this kind of pain.

Original Article – https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/body_aches

Why the body aches and what to do to feel better

Likbez

Health

October 3, 2022

The reasons can be different, and sometimes an ambulance is indispensable.

You can listen to the article. If it’s more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

What is “body aches” from a medical point of view

Aches are mild dull pain. There is a stable expression “breaking bones”, but usually they also mean muscles and joints all over the body at once.

Pain in the bones is otherwise called ossalgia, in the muscles – myalgia, and in the joints – arthralgia. In some conditions, they occur all together, in other cases – separately. These are non-specific symptoms, that is, they occur with different diseases, so it is impossible to make a diagnosis based on only one sign.

Causes of body aches and fever

Most often, the body aches with fever due to infections. When viruses or bacteria enter the body, the immune system sends white blood cells to fight. They produce various substances that kill the invaders. There is inflammation, because of which literally everything hurts.

There are usually other symptoms:

• chills;
• weakness;
• drowsiness;
• runny nose;
• cough.

So from the point of view of the body, aches are good. It shows that the immune system fights the disease. At the same time, chills increase this pain, because the muscles “tremble”, contract strongly and overwork.

Aches in the bones and muscles also occur with various poisonings, such as drugs, heavy metals, poisons. At the same time, the temperature may also rise.

Why body and bones aches without fever

Body aches without fever often occur in healthy people. For example, after an intense workout, sleeping in an uncomfortable position or nervous strain.

In more severe cases, this symptom may be due to chronic diseases, such as arthritis, lupus erythematosus, hypothyroidism, diabetes, malignant tumors, or chemotherapy.

When should you call an ambulance?0003

• appeared after a tick bite;
• accompanied by severe swelling or redness of the skin;
• occurred with rash.

Medical attention is required to avoid missing a deadly condition.

What to do if the body aches

It all depends on the cause of the violation. If you do not have the dangerous symptoms listed above, but the condition is still bothering you, contact your therapist. He will find out what caused the aches in the body, and prescribe treatment.

If you are sure that the discomfort is related to, for example, a common cold or an uncomfortable posture, try to relieve the pain yourself. For this, such methods are suitable.

Stay hydrated

Some illnesses that cause body aches also cause dehydration. For example, it is the flu, acute intestinal infections or poisoning. But the fluid is important for the normal functioning of the body, without it it will be more difficult for him to fight. Therefore, try to drink more pure water, tea, broths or pharmaceutical solutions of electrolytes.

Warm up your muscles

This advice is only suitable if there is no high temperature. Warmth helps to relax the muscles, so a warm (not hot!) bath or shower will help. You can also lie down under a blanket or attach a heating pad to your body. It is important not to overdo it so that it doesn’t get worse, so it’s better not to fall asleep with a heating pad.

Rest

When the body is fighting disease or recovering, it gets more tired, so it needs more rest and sleep. Sometimes other symptoms can interfere with sleep, but still try to spend as much time in bed as possible.

Bring down the temperature

Although the fever helps to fight infections, the state of health worsens greatly. Fever, aches, and chills are often associated, so to make it easier to bear the disease, you can bring down the temperature. For example, take a cool bath for this, do not wrap yourself up, drink an antipyretic.

Take over-the-counter pain relievers if needed.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, reduce the production of substances that are responsible for inflammation, and therefore help with body aches. In addition, they reduce the temperature if it is an infection. But you should not abuse the drugs: you can take them no more often than indicated in the instructions.

Read also 🌡💊🛀

• Why your shoulders hurt and what to do about it
• Why your heels hurt and what to do about it
• What is a tension headache and how to deal with it
• 5 Flu Treatment Mistakes That Can Kill You
• What Fever Without Other Symptoms Says0000 cause of aches in muscles and joints in the autumn-winter period

  Aches in the body, pain in muscles and joints – a typical reaction of the body in response to frosty weather. However, in some cases, chronic diseases are hidden behind “seasonal” symptoms. Why are we so exposed to the cold and when should you think about visiting a doctor – we tell in the material.

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  Netlenka

  Health

  Medicine

  Biology

  Diseases

  Freepik

  Painful sensations in cold weather are experienced not only by weather-dependent people: many people face such a problem in the autumn-winter period. But how to explain such a reaction of the body?

  Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

  How cold weather affects muscles and joints

  With the onset of cold weather, chronic diseases and hidden diseases become more acute. Therefore, men and women aged 40+ are especially acutely aware of seasonal changes. Aches in the bones, pain in the joints, aching sensations throughout the body often indicate the presence of pathologies, including arthrosis, arthritis, sciatica and other diseases. If the problem recurs from year to year, you should immediately consult a doctor.

  Experts tend to believe that unpleasant sensations in autumn and winter appear due to sudden changes in atmospheric pressure. Climatic fluctuations directly affect the pressure in the joints, which provokes pain.

  Another reason lies in our desire to save energy, to spend less energy on movements. In cold weather, the average resident of a metropolis wants to spend more time in the warmth, that is, indoors, sitting on the couch or at the computer. Paradoxically, the more the body relaxes, the more the muscles lose their elasticity and the joints become numb.

  Discomfort in the lower back, knees, neck at low temperatures may be associated with reflex mechanisms. The fact is that the body, freezing, naturally redirects oxygenated blood to vital organs – the heart, lungs, kidneys – to maintain their functioning. This process deprives the joints and muscles of part of the heat, which affects the well-being of a person.

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  Frost tips: how to relieve body pain

  • Keep moving. Regular physical activity will help to avoid seasonal pain in muscles, bones and joints.
  • Stay hydrated for a healthy musculoskeletal system. Water is necessary for the body at any time of the year, but in winter it is especially important to avoid dehydration. A normal fluid level promotes better gliding of cartilage and prevents damage to tendons and ligaments.
  • Do not overcool. When the temperature drops outside, try to find ways to keep warm. The most obvious way to keep your body warm is to dress appropriately for the weather (yes, Mom was talking about a hat and warm socks!). Also, after a walk, it does not hurt to take a warm shower, drink a cup of some kind of warming drink (non-alcoholic, of course), and before going to bed, cover yourself with a blanket or duvet.