Muscle aches can
occur in adults and children. In many cases, sore and aching muscles are
nothing to worry about and will resolve without medical treatment. However,
muscle aches can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying illness.
Common causes of muscle aches include:
·
overexertion
·
trauma to an area of the body
·
viral infections
Muscle aches, also
known as myalgia, can be felt in any area of the body that has muscles.
Depending on the cause, the discomfort may be mild or extremely severe.
What are the
causes of muscle aches?
The most common
causes of muscle aches include:
Stress
Stress makes it harder for the body to
fight off disease. In people who are unwell and stressed, the muscles may ache as the
body struggles to combat inflammation or infection.
Symptoms of stress
include:
·
heart palpitations or an increased
heart rate
·
high
blood pressure
·
headaches
·
shaking
·
chest pains
·
feeling breathless or
hyperventilating
People can try to
combat stress by learning relaxation techniques and removing themselves from
stressful situations where possible.
Nutritional
deficit
A person may
experience muscular aches and pains because they are not getting the proper nutrition from their
diet.
Vitamin D plays a particularly important role in
ensuring that the muscles function correctly. Vitamin D helps with
the absorption of calcium, and a deficiency
can lead to hypocalcemia.
Hypocalcemia is a
condition in which the blood calcium level is low, which can affect the bones
and organs in addition to the muscles.
Dehydration
A person who is
dehydrated may experience muscle aches.
Drinking enough
water is vital to keep the body functioning properly as it can quickly begin to
shut down without adequate fluids. Dehydration causes
essential bodily functions, such as breathing and digestion, to become more
difficult.
People should be
aware of how much water they are drinking. The recommended amount is 6–8
glasses of water each day. If hot weather or exercise causes a person to sweat
more than usual, they will need to drink more than this.
Sprains and
strains
Strains, sprains,
and other injuries can cause muscle pain and discomfort.
People may find
that a particular area of the body becomes stiff and achy if it is injured.
Pulling muscles can also cause muscle soreness.
Some sprains and
strains do not need treatment, but a person should rest, take over-the-counter
(OTC) pain relievers, or use heat packs to ease the symptoms.
However, if the
injury is causing significant pain, restricting normal movement, or not
improving with time, it is advisable to make an appointment with a doctor.
Sleep deficiencies
A lack of sleep
can have a severe impact on the body.
Sleep allows the body
to rest and recuperate, and a person's muscles may ache if they do not get
enough sleep.
A lack of quality
sleep can also make people feel sluggish and slow. It can affect people's
ability to think clearly and make it harder for them to carry out everyday
tasks.
Too much physical
activity
Overdoing exercise
can lead to stiff, sore muscles.
The following
factors can make a person more susceptible to muscle aches and pains when
exercising:
·
being unused to exercise
·
trying a new exercise
·
exercising more intensely or for
longer than usual
·
failing to warm up or stretch
properly
Everything you need to know about
fibromyalgia
Infections,
diseases, and hereditary conditions
Many different
medical issues can cause muscle aches. Conditions that most commonly affect the
muscles include:
·
anemia
·
arthritis
·
chronic fatigue syndrome
·
claudication
·
dermatomyositis
·
influenza,
known as flu
·
fibromyalgia
·
lupus
·
Lyme disease
·
multiple
sclerosis (MS)
·
pneumonia
·
mononucleosis, often called mono
No comments:
Post a Comment