Body Aches

Key takeaways

• Body aches are when you feel soreness in the muscles and joints throughout your body.
• Body aches can be a symptom of an infection or illness such as Influenza (flu), COVID-19, fibromyalgia and mononucleosis (mono).
• Over-the-counter pain relievers may relieve body aches, but a health care provider can best help evaluate your symptoms and treat the root cause.

Overview

What are body aches?

Body aches are when muscles and joints throughout your body are sore or ache. They occur due to inflammation in your body. Any time you get sick, your immune system tells your white blood cells to fight off the infection. This is a good thing, but it also causes inflammation that can leave you feeling sore.

Body aches may feel similar to muscle or joint pain, but they are not localized to a certain area on your body.

They're often linked to an infection rather than overuse or injury. Body aches can often be accompanied by fever, chills, headaches, fatigue or general muscle weakness.

Other names for body aches?

Myalgia

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Possible Causes

What can cause body aches?

Infections and illnesses are often the cause of body aches. You may also develop body aches as a side effect of nutrient deficiencies or poor sleep habits.

Some potential causes of body aches include but are not exclusive to:

• Influenza (the flu)
• COVID-19
• Lyme disease
• Mononucleosis (Mono)
• Fibromyalgia
• Other factors (dehydration, lack of sleep, vitamin D deficiency, anemia)

If you're not sure what is causing your body aches, meet with a health care provider to discuss your symptoms.

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Treatment & management

How can body aches be treated?

It is important to work with a health care provider to determine the cause of your body aches so that it can be treated appropriately. Depending on what is causing your body aches, your health care provider may recommend over-the-counter pain medications. If body aches are preventing you from falling asleep or sitting comfortably, you may feel better after a hot bath or shower. To avoid getting overheated, use lukewarm water. You can also use a heating pad for 20 minutes to ease soreness.

MinuteClinic offers a variety of services that can help with diagnosis and treatment.

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When to seek medical care

Go to the hospital or call 911:

• You have shortness of breath with your body aches
• You have a high fever and stiff neck, which are both potential signs of meningitis
• You can't move or have difficulty swallowing

Call your provider if

• Your body aches persist for more than 1 week
• Your body aches are accompanied by swelling
• You have a rash in the shape of a bullseye
• Your body aches are accompanied by poor circulation

In general, if you are concerned about your body aches, seek care with a health care provider. You can find a variety of services at a MinuteClinic near you.

Plan your visit

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This material is for reference only and should not be used to determine treatment for specific medical conditions.

Please visit a healthcare provider for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 or visit your local Emergency Department.

References used as sources for this page

1. Why Your Whole Body Aches When You're Sick (and What You Can Do About It). https://www.uclahealth.org/news/why-your-whole-body-aches-when-youre-sick-and-what-you-can-do-about-it. (Accessed on May 2023)
2. Muscle Aches. Source from Mount Sinai. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/muscle-aches. (Accessed on May 2023)

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