Why your whole body aches when you re sick (and what you can do about it)
Full-body aches are also often accompanied by other symptoms including:
Don’t ignore the sudden chills and aches
Occasionally you will experience sudden chills. According to experts, this is a normal situation. But sometimes, chills are a sign of an underlying illness. Therefore, if this symptom often appears, you should not be negligent, subjective but take it lightly.
1. What is sudden chills?
So what is sudden chills? This is the body’s mechanism to generate heat by letting the muscles in the body continuously contract and relax. This is to adjust body temperature in accordance with weather conditions with the outside environment.
As noted, some cases of sudden chills will appear with some other symptoms such as fever, chills. If the condition is cyclical and for a short period of time, you should see your health care provider for an evaluation and to detect an underlying medical condition.
2. Causes of sudden chills
The cause of the sudden chills may not be found. However, below could be one of the reasons why you have this feeling.
2.1. Viral infection One of the causes of chills is a viral infection. At this time, the body’s resistance will decrease, causing the following signs: body fatigue, muscle aches, mild to severe fever, chills. In this case, you can fix it yourself at home. by resting, nutritional supplements, drinking enough water. According to the doctor, using antibiotics to treat the disease in this case has almost no effect, and can even cause side effects. extra.
2.2. Mononucleosis Patients with mononucleosis will appear symptoms such as: sudden chills, swollen lymph nodes, fever, sore throat, . This disease is caused by a virus, so you need to see a doctor. doctor for definitive treatment.
2.3. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Today, many people suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome due to the nature of work and life pressure. This syndrome occurs in people who experience fatigue and stress that lasts from half a year to a year. Some symptoms indicate that you are experiencing this disease such as: prolonged fatigue, body aches, low fever, chills, unfocused mind.
To overcome this situation, you should spend a lot of time resting, relaxing, increasing nutrition as well as exercising regularly.
2.4. Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune diseases are often caused by disorders of the immune system. This system attacks the body’s own cells. Autoimmune diseases usually occur in the endocrine glands, heart organs, and kidneys.
Bệnh tự miễn có thể gây ớn lạnh đột ngột
When suffering from autoimmune diseases, the patient will appear symptoms such as: sudden chills, low fever, cough, muscle and joint pain. To diagnose this disease, you need to visit a doctor and get tested. Order a blood test.
2.5. Hypothyroidism A typical symptom of hypothyroidism is a feeling of chills and aches. This condition occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, making it difficult to metabolize and control other body processes.
In addition to the sudden chills, the patient may have other symptoms such as: irregular heartbeat, erratic high blood pressure, sudden weight gain, constipation.
2.6. Pulmonary TB Pulmonary TB is a disease that seriously affects the health of the patient causing dry cough, high fever, muscle aches, chills, aches and pains, shortness of breath. long-term treatment with antibiotics.
2.7. Influenza Influenza is a common illness when the immune system is attacked. Flu episodes often pass quickly, even without treatment if you eat and rest properly. However, this condition still causes some symptoms that make the body tired such as: mild fever, chills, nausea, sore throat.
2.8. Pneumonia Pneumonia caused by a virus or bacteria attack on this part. This condition causes symptoms such as: shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain, sudden chills .
To treat the disease thoroughly, you need to strictly follow the treatment regimen of your doctor. , carry out the indications on nutrition, exercise. Besides, you need to stay away from cigarettes and irritants that damage the lungs.
2.9. Vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B, especially vitamin B12, plays an important role in the functioning of the nervous system as well as in replenishing blood circulation throughout the body. When this nutrient is lacking, the body’s activities will be severely affected.
Some signs that you are lacking vitamin B12 and need to be supplemented urgently are: chills, anxiety, stress, stress, fatigue, mood disorders, aches and pains of muscles and joints, ..
If you have chills due to vitamin B12 deficiency, you can improve your condition at home by injecting B12 according to the doctor’s prescribed dosage, supplementing with foods rich in vitamin B12 such as eggs, milk, cheese, red meat.
2.10. Side effects of medications Medicines work to treat the disease, but in many cases these medications can cause side effects such as chills, fatigue, and nausea. To avoid this situation, you should use the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, avoid overdose or under-dosage.
Tác dụng phụ của thuốc có thể gây ớn lạnh đột ngột cho người mắc
If you still have questions about sudden chills, you can go to a hospital of Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical facility in Vietnam with a team of highly qualified medical professionals, well-trained, domestic and foreign, and experienced.
A system of modern and advanced medical equipment, possessing many of the best machines in the world, helping to detect many difficult and dangerous diseases in a short time, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of doctors the most effective. The hospital space is designed according to 5-star hotel standards, giving patients comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.
To register for an examination at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online HERE.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Flu
- Live Strong
- Hypothyroidism
- Sudden chills
- Viral infection
- Autoinfectious disease
Why your whole body aches when you’re sick (and what you can do about it)
Coming down with a cold, virus or the flu is never fun. But sometimes you can push through if the symptoms aren’t too bad. Have a sore throat? Gargle. Feeling congested? Take a steam shower. Mild fever? Take fever-reducing medicine. It’s bearable, though not ideal.
But once full-body aches set in (often accompanied by a fever), you may quickly find yourself out of commission. Unlike the muscle aches that can come on after one too many squats, body aches from an illness tend to cause dull pain and discomfort everywhere.
The good news is you can find some relief from full-body aches right in the comfort of your home. Here’s what you need to know:
What causes body aches when you’re sick?
When you have the flu, a common cold, a virus or a bacterial infection, your immune system jumps into action. It reacts by releasing white blood cells to fight off the infection. The reaction causes inflammation, which can leave your muscles feeling achy.
The good news is that your achiness is a sign that your body is fighting off the illness. But the harder your body works, the more severely the body might ache.
Full-body aches are also often accompanied by other symptoms including:
- Fever
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Shivering or body temperature changes
- Cold and flu-like symptoms
What helps body aches
The best way to diminish full-body aches is to treat the underlying cause of the aching. But as you’re waiting for treatment to kick in — or just waiting for a virus to run its course — try to:
Stay hydrated
Some symptoms of cold and flu — such as sweating, vomiting and diarrhea — can leave you dehydrated. But water is essential to your body’s normal functioning and its ability to fight infection. Drink plenty of water, broth, tea or electrolyte drinks. Soup is also a great way to stay hydrated, especially if you are struggling to eat solid foods.
Use heat to relax your muscles
Heat can loosen muscles and provide relief from body aches. If you don’t have a severe fever, a warm bath or shower can be relaxing. But avoid making the temperature too hot — keep the water just above lukewarm to maintain your body temperature. Heating pads or blankets can also offer some comfort, but avoid excessive heat and don’t use them if there is a chance you may fall asleep.
Regulate your body temperature
Full-body aches often go hand-in-hand with a fever. As a higher body temperature causes you to shiver, your muscles tense up and may begin to ache. To regulate your body temperature, reach for fever-reducing pain medicine, take a cool bath and use only a thin blanket or sheet.
Rest
Research shows that the immune system and sleep are closely connected. Sleep strengthens the body’s defense system. And when the body is fighting infection, it craves more sleep. The problem is that when you are sick, other symptoms often make it hard to sleep soundly. Try to rest as much as possible — it will relax your muscles and speed up the healing process.
Take over-the-counter pain medication
Common pain relievers may help you feel better but be sure to choose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. NSAIDs have anti-inflammatory properties and block the body’s production of inflammation-causing chemicals. As a bonus, NSAIDs also help reduce fever to regulate body temperature.
When to see your doctor about full-body aches
Body aches from a viral illness typically clear up in a couple of days and improve with home remedies. But if your body aches haven’t gotten better after 3-5 days, check in with your primary care physician (PCP).
See a doctor sooner if your body aches:
- Appear after a tick bite
- Accompany severe redness or swelling
- Occur with a rash
If you don’t have a fever or other symptoms, and you experience body aches often or for prolonged periods of time, make an appointment with your PCP. It could be a sign of a drug reaction or a more severe and chronic underlying medical condition, such as an autoimmune disease.
If you have body aches that aren’t improving, reach out to your primary care physician.