Body Aches
What are Body Aches
Body aches or pains are a common symptom for many things, from tiredness and exercise, to medical conditions.
Symptoms
Body aches and sore muscles from exercise are normal. But, if body aches are due to a medical condition, there may be other symptoms that accompany body aches.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain in a specific spot or area on the body
- Fatigue
- Feeling tired or weak
- Shivers or chills
- Cold or flu-like symptoms
Causes
There are many potential causes for body aches.
Potential causes include:
- Infections and virus like the cold or flu
- Blood flow problems
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS)
- Thyroid problems
- Fluid retention
- Arthritis
- Lupus
- Certain medications
- Fibromyalgia
- Polymyositis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Lyme disease
- Stress
- Dehydration
- Lack of sleep
Treatment
Proper treatment depends on the cause of the body aches, as well as a proper diagnosis. Since body aches are such a common symptom, getting an accurate diagnosis from a doctor will be crucial to properly treat and relieve the pain.
When to see a Medical Doctor
To effectively treat body aches, it’s important to understand the cause; speaking to a doctor is the only way to get an accurate diagnosis.
If you suffer from sudden, or on-going, persistent body aches where the reasons are unknown to you, speak to a doctor as soon as you can.
Also, if you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition, or have a family history of one, or have experienced similar pain before, speak to a doctor, as sudden pain may be a sign of a medical condition.