Body Ache

Symptoms Of Body Ache

Following symptoms are commonly associated with body aches:

• A dull aching, low-intensity pain that occurs all over the body.

• Not having enough energy to perform routine activities or a feeling of discomfort while performing routine activities.

• Not feeling refreshed even after taking ample rest.

• Sometimes, fever and chills occur along with body ache.

Causes Of Body Ache

There are numerous reasons why a person can get body aches such as:

I. Lifestyle factors

1. Stress: A constant stressful lifestyle predisposes the body to fatigue and increases wear and tear. The person may become weak and have an increased risk of infections due to a reduced immune response. All this may cause the patient to have body aches. Stress is also known to cause other types of muscular pain, such as tension headaches, stiff and painful shoulders, etc.

2. Heavy exercise: An intense full-body workout session may leave the muscles sore and tired. Sore muscles cause pain. When a large number of muscles are involved, it can cause pain in the whole body.

3. Lack of sleep: Around 6 to 8 hours of sleep is essential for the body. While sleeping, the body regenerates its energy resources and refreshes you. A lack of sleep can hamper the overall health of the body.

4. Dehydration: The human body is made up of about 70% water. When you don’t drink enough water or lose more water than you consume (such as diarrhea), your body gets depleted of its stock of water. All these factors can lead you to feel tired and achy.

5. Nutritional deficiencies: If you do not consume a healthy and balanced diet, you are at risk for nutritional deficiencies. A deficiency of essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B complex, iron, and potassium can cause your body to feel weak, tired, and achy.

6. Medications: Certain medications such as statins (lipid-lowering medicine) or a few blood-pressure relieving medications are known to cause body aches.

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II. Health Conditions

1. Viral fever: Body aches are a common symptom of viral infections such as the common cold or the flu. Body ache is also a symptom of the novel coronavirus infection which has caused the Covid-19 pandemic.

2. Pneumonia: Infections in the lung, known as pneumonia, can be viral or bacterial. Body aches are a predominant symptom in the early stages of pneumonia.

3. Anemia: Anemia is a health condition caused by the deficiency of the pigment hemoglobin in the blood. It is characterized by weakness, fatigue, body aches, and many other symptoms.

4. Hypothyroidism: This occurs when your thyroid gland doesn’t make enough of certain key hormones. It can cause muscle and joint aches, as well as swelling and tenderness. It can make you tired and lead to memory problems, thinning hair, dry skin, high cholesterol, slowed heart rate, and other issues.

5. Multiple sclerosis: This is a chronic neurological disorder that occurs due to demyelination (inflammation that destroys the protective covering of nerve cells). It causes periods of flare-ups characterized by extreme fatigue, weakness, and generalized pain.

6. Fibromyalgia: In this disease, the entire musculoskeletal system of the body gets affected. The muscles feel tired, weak, and achy. The exact cause of this disease is not yet known.

7. Arthritis: Arthritis or inflammation of joints in the body can also cause generalized aches and pains.

8. Lupus: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an auto-immune disorder that affects the skin, joints, and internal organs. It is known to cause muscle and body pain.

9. Chronic fatigue syndrome: It is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months and that can't be fully explained by an underlying medical condition. The fatigue worsens with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest.

10. Peripheral neuropathy: A neurological condition that causes numbness, aches, and pains throughout the body. This condition is frequently caused by a traumatic injury to the nervous system or exposure to certain toxins and leads to burning and tingling sensations in the hands and feet. 

11. Depression: Negative emotions, including sadness and anxiety, seem to aggravate chronic pain. Depression is an overwhelming feeling of sadness or loss of interest. It leads to difficulty in sleeping, lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness, or thoughts of commiting suicide. Depression mentally drains the body and predisposes to body aches and pains. 

Risk Factors For Body Ache

If you have a poor and stressful lifestyle or are suffering from any active infections or chronic diseases, you are at an increased risk of suffering from body aches. Women, in general, are at a higher risk for certain diseases, such as fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis. These are some of the known causes of body aches.

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Diagnosis Of Body Ache

If you experience body ache occasionally, you can associate it with lifestyle factors or a bout of recent infection. But in either of the cases, there is no need to investigate it in further detail. However, if you have a chronic body ache that may or may be accompanied by other symptoms, it is necessary to perform tests to identify the underlying health conditions that may be causing these aches.

Along with a detailed history and physical examination, the following tests may be essential to establish a cause of the body aches:

• Complete hemogram and serum electrolyte to screen for overall health, presence of infections, electrolyte imbalance, etc.

• Urine routine and microscopy to check for latent urinary tract infections.

• Glucose - fasting blood and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to evaluate diabetes mellitus.

• HRCT chest - plain and X-Ray chest PA view to check for suspected pneumonia.

• Liver function test and Kidney function test to check the metabolic health of the body.

• Iron studies in cases of suspected anemia.

• ECG and lipid profile to check the heart’s health.

• PET CT in cases of suspected malignancy.

• EMG - All 4 limbs to evaluate the health of the muscles and NCV - All 4 Limbs to evaluate whether the nerves are carrying impulses to and from the brain correctly.

• MRI brain and MRI screening of whole spine to evaluate possible neurological causes of muscle weakness.

The doctors may order additional tests based on the preliminary test results to further evaluate suspected causes of body ache.

Prevention Of Body Ache

Making healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent body aches arising from lifestyle disorders. While it is not possible to completely prevent a body ache arising from health conditions, lifestyle changes may help reduce the intensity of the symptoms.

The following lifestyle modifications can help prevent body aches:

• Take a wholesome diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Cut back on processed foods.

• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially during the summer season.

• Establish a sound sleep schedule. Do not sleep during the day.

• Exercise daily, but do not over-exercise.

To prevent catching an infection, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water, especially before meals. Do not constantly touch your face, eyes, and nose with contaminated or unclean hands. Also, having a warm bath, as the heat can help relax muscles and ease tension in the body.

Specialist To Visit

If you experience a constant body ache and suspect it is not because of lifestyle factors, such as strenuous workouts or stress, it is better to get evaluated by your physician who will diagnose you himself or refer you to other specialist doctors: 

• Immunologist

• Internal medicine specialist

• Infectious disease specialist

• Neurologist

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Treatment Of Body Ache

Treatment for body ache is broadly divided into:

1. Symptomatic relief

Antipyretics and analgesics: Drugs like paracetamol can help with pain relief. In severe body aches, NSAID painkillers may be used for pain relief.

2. Treatment of underlying cause

Treatment for body ache varies according to the cause.

• Fever and infections: Antibiotics and antivirals are used to treat bacterial or viral infections, respectively.

• Anemia: The treatment for anemia covers a very broad area and is mostly based on the type of anemia. Common formulations used to treat anemia are folic acid supplements, Vitamin C supplements, recombinant human erythropoietin alfa, etc.

• Neurological and related disorders: The treatment for neurological and other related causes of body ache, such as multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc., is vast and complex. It usually consists of a combination of neurotonics, multi-vitamins, and neurotransmitter enzyme regulators wherever applicable.

Home Care For Body Ache

If you have a chronic body ache, it is essential to identify what is causing the pain so that the cause may be addressed and treated accordingly. There are certain things you can do at home that may help combat body aches-

1. Take a wholesome and balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals.

2. Drink plenty of fluids and energy drinks throughout the day.

3. Do not over-exercise to a point where your muscles become exceptionally sore.

4. Take a cold shower immediately post your workout to reduce muscle soreness and aches.

5. If you are stressed out, have a low-intensity body ache or try to sleep better at night. You may take a bath in a hot tub with Epsom salts or a hot shower to help you relax and ease the pain.

6. Avoid daytime naps. It is better to get 8 hours of sound sleep at night rather than catching up on sleep in bits and parts.

7. Reduce excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks (especially in the evening) and alcohol. Quit smoking and recreational drugs.

Complications Of Body Ache

Worsening body ache is usually a sign of the worsening of the underlying health condition. If you have a fever and body ache and your symptoms are worsening, it may suggest a possible case of a severe infection, such as pneumonia. However, if your pain worsens after a workout, it can be a sign of a muscle injury. In conditions like multiple sclerosis, worsening body ache usually signals the onset of a flare-up or aggravation of the disease.

Alternative Therapies Of Body Ache

Along with the medical treatments for the underlying health conditions, you can overcome body aches with several alternative therapies like:

1. Diet

Consuming a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients is an excellent way of providing the body with the fuel it needs to perform activities. A balanced diet ensures there are no vitamin or mineral deficiencies that often cause body aches. Drinking plenty of water and fluids, like buttermilk, herbal teas, soups, coconut water, etc., keeps your body hydrated and refreshed.

2. Meditation

Meditation techniques like focusing on breathing awareness, progressive relaxation, etc. can help channel and conserve the body’s energy. It may help overcome chronic pain and also boost energy levels.

3. Massage and relaxation

Gentle body massage has been known to promote relaxation and improve blood flow to various parts of the body. This may help relax muscle soreness and provide pain relief while rejuvenating the body. Soaking in a hot tub with Epsom salts is another great way to promote relaxation and reduce body aches.

4. Aromatherapy

Inhaling soothing fragrances like rosemary, lavender, chamomile, etc helps calm your mind and can soothe an ache.

5. Exercise and yoga

Light exercises and yoga help boost the body's energy levels and are a great way of combating muscle aches. However, care must be taken not to overdo the physical activities as it may lead to soreness and become an indirect cause for body aches. Strenuous exercises followed by a cold shower may help reduce the onset of muscle soreness.

6. Ayurveda

Certain ayurvedic herbs, like Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Licorice, etc., are known for their medicinal properties. They can help increase the body’s overall strength and stamina. They may even help to an extent in combating body aches. Massage with ayurvedic oils or panchakarma is useful in promoting relaxation and reducing muscle and body ache.

7. Homeopathy

Homeopathic preparations in the form of oral drops/pills, such as Rhus Toxicodendron, Arnica Montana, Solanum Dulcamara, etc., are known to improve pain, especially joint pains.

Living With Body Ache

Body aches are typically a sign that your body is feeling down and out. In most cases, this pain is dull and will resolve on its own and is rarely severe. However body pain is usually  accompanied by weakness, low endurance, sleep disturbances, and fatigue which drain the body further. This can lead to a vicious cycle. Conditions such as traveling long distances, over exertion, dehydration, or emotional stress also influence pain. Adequate rest, good sleep cycle, balanced nutritious diet along with stress management can go a long way in managing body aches and pains.

Hence, an occasional episode of body ache has no severe impact on a patient’s quality of life. But chronic body aches may interfere with daily activities, leading to restrictions in movements and travel. Often, chronic pain can be a source of anxiety and depression in patients. Proper and in depth diagnosis and relevant treatment of the underlying cause is of utmost importance in such cases. Do not hesitate to visit your doctor in case you have been tackling body aches for a long time.