Body aches are extremely common as we age but they can be an early warning sign for more serious problems.
There are many different reasons why we can suffer from body aches.
While most instances of body aches are easily treatable and relatively harmless, some body aches can be symptoms of more serious medical conditions.
Body aches often occur alongside other symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, shivers, changes in body temperature, or cold and flu-like symptoms.
Some possible causes of body aches include:
Fibromyalgia – a long-term condition that causes aches and pains throughout the body, and is often accompanied by muscle stiffness.
Infections and viruses – the flu, the common cold, and other viral or bacterial infections can cause body aches.
Fluid retention – you can experience cramps or sharp localised pains if you are retaining fluid, as the fluid can cause muscles to swell and press on the nerve endings.
Medications – statins and some blood pressure medication have side effects that make the body feel sore, stiff and achy.
Stress – can cause tension in the body and also weaken the immune system.
Dehydration – can sometimes cause a person to feel tired and sore.
Insomnia – over time, not getting enough sleep can lead to exhaustion. This may make the body feel achy, sluggish and heavy.
Arthritis – can cause the body’s immune system to attack the healthy tissues that line the joints, causing pain and discomfort.
When to see a doctor
If traditional pain relief techniques, such as drinking more water, getting more sleep, regular resting or taking over-the-counter medications, are not relieving your symptoms, it might be worth thinking about your next course of action.
If you have been suffering from the pain for more than two weeks and it shows no sign of abating, or is even intensifying or becoming more severe, it could be worth scheduling an appointment with your GP.
For more information, visit medicalnewstoday.com
Have you ever suffered with miscellaneous body aches and pains? Did you discover the root cause of the pain? Were you able to get relief?
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