Body Aches: What Causes Them, and What Can You Do?

Body aches tend to be associated with growing older. And it is true that as we age, we can feel more aches and pains in certain parts of our bodies. But anyone can experience body aches at every stage of life, especially if you have certain health conditions. Health.com shares the low down on when to see a doctor, and how to treat aches and pains at home:

What Do Body Aches Feel Like?

Body aches describe a sensation of heavy and achy muscles, similar to what you might feel after long or hard exercise. While physical exertion can cause some body aches, pain can also occur without exercise. You might notice that your body aches feel worse when you move or that you experience dull pain even when you're resting.

Some people also notice symptoms that occur alongside body aches. These may include:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble sleeping

The severity and duration of your body aches can vary, and the exact type of pain you feel will depend on the underlying cause. Generally, body aches occur due to acute (short-term) illnesses, like the flu or COVID-19. The pain can last for a few days while your body recovers. However, chronic body aches may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Common Causes

Experience body aches is usually a sign that your body is fighting off a mild-to-moderate acute illness like the flu. In some cases, however, body aches may be a symptom of a more complex or chronic health concern that can be treated with the support of a healthcare provider…

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Most people will experience body aches at some point in their lives, especially when experiencing the flu or COVID-19. Body aches are not usually a cause for concern and are a sign that your body is fighting off an illness or recovering from a period of stress. Body aches often resolve on their own, but seek care from a healthcare provider if you:

• Experience body aches after a tick bite
• Notice body aches after taking statin medications
• Have headaches, fever, shortness of breath, or muscle weakness alongside body aches
• Feel like your body aches are persistent or worsening

When you seek care for your body aches, your healthcare provider will likely ask about your medical history, conduct a physical exam, and order other diagnostic exams to investigate the cause of your body aches.

These tests may include a healthcare provider taking a blood sample or swabbing your nose or throat for certain underlying conditions, such as mononucleosis, the flu, COVID-19, or an autoimmune disease.

How To Treat and Manage Body Aches

Short-term body aches usually resolve on their own, but a combination of home remedies and medications can help treat your body aches. Your healthcare provider may recommend the following options: 

• Prioritize rest
• Drink more water or electrolytes, such as sports drinks, soups, and teas
• Take anti-inflammatory medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Treat the underlying cause of your body aches, whether that's an autoimmune disorder or another condition

Preventing Body Aches

When infections and short-term illnesses cause body aches, there are ways you can prevent them from occurring. If you experience body aches with cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms, the best way to prevent body aches from illness is to stay up-to-date on your vaccinations and prioritize rest and hydration if you get sick.

However, if your body aches are caused by an underlying condition such as an autoimmune disorder, treating the condition with help from your provider can reduce the frequency or severity of your body aches.

Regardless of the cause of your body aches, keeping open communication with your healthcare provider will help support your overall health and help you find relief sooner if your body aches don’t quickly resolve on their own.

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We all want to feel our best. But sometimes factors that are not within our control can contribute to aches and pains. When they impact your quality of life, it’s time to take charge and work with a healthcare provider to get back to feeling your best!