Why Does the Flu Cause Body Aches?

The aching that is experienced in your body is not directly caused by the flu, but has more to do with the natural immune response your body has to fight off the infection. When your body encounters an infection, antibodies are sent to attach to the virus and produce proteins that are created to kill the virus. It is the presence of those proteins that leads to aching within our muscles. As well, we often will experience some inflammation which can lead to aching due to the productions of another type of small proteins that are used to provide signaling between cells.

The aching that you experience during the flu within the muscles and joints is caused by your immune system creating proteins and releasing white blood cells in an attempt to fight off the virus as quickly as possible. Colds and the influenza come with a list of very common side effects, with aching through your muscles and joints being high up on the list of common symptoms. While they are a healthy response to your body fighting off the virus, there are some things you can do to help alleviate some of the discomfort or pain that the aching may be causing.

Alongside aching in the muscles and joints, there are quite a few other common symptoms that are indicative of the flu. Early symptoms include fatigue, a sore throat, and developing a fever or feeling feverish. Once the flu has developed a bit, it is common to suffer from congestion or a runny nose, as well as headaches and a productive or dry cough. Less common but normal symptoms of the flu include vomiting and diarrhea, but this is far more common to occur in children than adults. The very early signs of the flu will be feeling off, as in sluggish, lethargic, along with muscle aches and weakness. These are common symptoms of many different viruses or infections, at which point your body is telling you to slow down and rest so that it can recover from whatever it is trying to fight off.

So long as you are of good health and are under the age of 65, you should be able to safely treat all flu symptoms from the comfort of your own home. The sooner the virus from the flu has been successfully fought off by your immune system the sooner all associated symptoms would be relieved. Some at-home remedies for the flu include getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated. As well, there are over the counter medications that can be taken that would provide relief for all flu symptoms including muscle and joint aches, nasal congestion, and fevers. Over the counter pain medication such as ibuprofen will provide relief for any aching that is being experienced in the body due to the flu. Taking a warm bath or shower can also provide relief to those aching muscles and joints, at least temporarily to provide some comfort. If the aching becomes unmanageable or leads to visible swelling or redness in the joints, seek medical attention to rule out any other potential concerns and get recommendations for treatment from a health care professional.

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