There are times, we attribute body aches and fatigue to the stress of our daily activities. And this is understandable, waking up as early as 5 a.m and returning home as late as 10 p.m, can take its toll on the body leading to muscle pains, aches, and tiredness. However, there are many causes of body aches and tiredness beyond the stress of work and we will be learning about these in this post, and how we can solve them.

If you have aches and pains around your neck, shoulders, and back, this could be due to stress-causing tension in the muscles in these regions. However, when the pain moves beyond these areas to other parts such as the abdomen, chest, or leg, then it is time to consider other possible causes of the pain and fatigue.

Another cause of tiredness and body pains could be sleep deprivation. Sleeping for at least 7 hours is generally recommended and anything below this could affect the body’s ability to produce new cells, which can lead to physical exhaustion and pain. If you’re unable to fall asleep, you can put in place a no-screen rule when it is bedtime, as it has been discovered that light from laptops, phones, and television can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle.

Sometimes, physical exhaustion and body pains can be due to acute infections such as the common cold or chronic conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. These conditions can cause headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and stiffness. Furthermore, autoimmune disorders such as lupus and multiple sclerosis can cause muscle weakness and joint pains.

Some medications also cause body aches and fatigue as side effects. These include some statins, blood pressure-lowering drugs, and asthma medications such as fluticatisone. Tadalafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction can also cause muscle aches and pains.

Additionally, dehydration and nutrient deficiencies can also cause body aches. Some common ones include Vitamin D, Potassium, Calcium, and Iron. The lack of these nutrients can alter the way the tissues in the body interact with one another leading to aches and pains.

Generally, our muscles ache every now and then, and we tend to get tired from time to time. Depending on the cause, here are some simple steps you can take to alleviate the pain

1. Bed rest can be very effective in treating pain
2. You can also ice packs to reduce the inflammation and heat to improve the blood flow
3. Taking a warm shower or soaking yourself in a warm bath can also be helpful
4. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, paracetamol, or ibuprofen. Another excellent option when it comes to alleviating your muscle pain or aches is to try complementary therapies, such as massage, meditation, or acupuncture.

Overall, if you try any of these and you don’t get better, you should call your doctor. Furthermore, if you feel the pain worsen or you experience chest pain, fever, loss of bladder control, muscle weakness, or even numbness or tingling in limbs, you should also call your doctor.