Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Body Aches?SymptomsTreatmentWhen to See Your Healthcare ProviderFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Body Aches?
Symptoms
Treatment
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
FAQ
Seasonal allergiescan lead to body aches and pain, in addition to more common symptoms like congestion, coughing, andwatery eyes. This is primarily because allergic reactions can trigger inflammatory responses in the body.Repeatedly coughing and sneezing can lead to even more pain.
There are a number of ways to treat and manage body aches and related allergy symptoms, from over-the-counter (OTC) medications and warm baths to resting sore muscles. Keep in mind, though, that many other health conditions can also lead to muscle aches andjoint pain.
This article discusses how body aches may be a symptom of seasonal allergies, as well as some possible causes and treatments. It also offers tips for preventing body aches and other seasonal allergy symptoms.
Body aches are a symptom you feel in your joints and muscles, including pain, stiffness, and generalized weakness. Body aches have a number of possible causes, including:
Seasonal allergies also can lead to body aches, although there are a number of types of allergies (food allergies, for example) that can occur with a range of different symptoms.
Don’t Ignore Chest PainWhile chest pain can occur with allergies, it can also be a sign of a life-threatening heart attack. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect your chest pain might not be related to your allergies. Other signs of heart attack can include:Shortness of breathPain or numbness in the neck, jaw, or armsVomitingDizzinessFeeling hot or coldBreaking out in a sweatPressure in your chest
Don’t Ignore Chest Pain
While chest pain can occur with allergies, it can also be a sign of a life-threatening heart attack. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect your chest pain might not be related to your allergies. Other signs of heart attack can include:Shortness of breathPain or numbness in the neck, jaw, or armsVomitingDizzinessFeeling hot or coldBreaking out in a sweatPressure in your chest
While chest pain can occur with allergies, it can also be a sign of a life-threatening heart attack. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect your chest pain might not be related to your allergies. Other signs of heart attack can include:
Why Does My Chest Hurt When I Take a Deep Breath?
Are Body Aches a Symptom of Allergies?
Body aches may be a symptom of seasonal allergies, which are also calledallergic rhinitis. This may occur along with more common symptoms as part of a body-wide (systemic) immune response to allergies.
Some of the reasons for body aches with seasonal allergies include:
Your healthcare provider can help to diagnose the exact reason for your body aches.
Inflammation
Seasonal allergies that lead to body aches also may cause symptoms of:
Some of the same immune substances that help fight off allergens also activate nerves in the body that carry pain signals.
Excessive Coughing and Sneezing
Seasonal allergies most often affect your respiratory system—nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. However, pain from allergies can also affect other parts of your body.
Repeatedly coughing and sneezing can strain the muscles between your ribs or the cartilage that attaches your ribs to your breastbone (a condition calledcostochondritis), causing a lot of pain. This pain is usually sharp and intense and worsens when you breathe, sneeze, laugh, or cough.
Pain can also come from your diaphragm, or breathing muscle. The pain can spread to your shoulder or neck.
Body Aches and Other Health Conditions
People who have other inflammatory conditions, such asrheumatoid arthritis, may experience body aches with their seasonal allergies. Some studies have shown an association between the two conditions.
Treatment and Management of Body Aches
Medications can help relieve body aches or pain along with other allergy symptoms. The main OTC options for allergic rhinitis include:
Allergy shotsalso may be used to prevent seasonal allergies.
To reduce muscle and joint pain, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Aleve (naproxen) or Advil (ibuprofen) may help. You also can try:
Anallergistcan conduct specificskin or blood teststo identify allergies and develop an appropriate treatment plan.If you’re managing body ache symptoms at home, be sure to speak to your allergy specialist before changing how you use your medications or adding new ones.
Seasonal allergies usually strike during spring, summer, or fall, depending on your specific allergens. Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent seasonal allergies and body aches. However, there are things you can do to help manage your symptoms. You can try to:
Weather can have a significant impact on seasonal allergies. While rain washes pollen away, pollen levels can spike right after a rainfall. Other allergens, such as mold, thrive in hot, humid weather.
Try staying inside on windy days, because wind lifts allergen particles off the ground, making you more likely to breathe them in.
Why Do I Have Body Aches and Chills but No Fever?
Body aches related to allergies can also often be a symptom of cold, flu, or viral infection. They also can be due to a more serious chronic condition. Consider visiting your healthcare provider if:
Although it’s very rare, a person can cough hard enough to crack or break a rib.This injury, called arib fracture, typically causes constant, severe pain that does not improve with medications. See your doctor if you suspect you’ve damaged a rib.
When to Seek Emergency Care for Body Aches from Allergies
Body aches from allergies can range from mild to moderate to severe, depending on the cause. Consider seeking emergency care for allergy-related body aches if:
Summary
Home remedies and over-the-counter medications often bring relief from body ache symptoms. But don’t ignore chest pain (it may be heart-related) or pain symptoms that either don’t go away or worsen over time.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes. While body aches and fatigue are not the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies, they do occur. More typical allergy symptoms are runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes, especially in kids.Learn MoreAn Overview of Seasonal Allergies in KidsAllergies will continue as long as you are exposed to your specific allergen. Symptoms, including body aches, can often be managed with medications. If you’re not experiencing relief with over-the-counter drugs, speak to your healthcare provider about prescription treatments.Learn MoreDo You Need Prescription Medications for Allergy Relief?
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While body aches and fatigue are not the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies, they do occur. More typical allergy symptoms are runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes, especially in kids.Learn MoreAn Overview of Seasonal Allergies in Kids
Yes. While body aches and fatigue are not the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies, they do occur. More typical allergy symptoms are runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes, especially in kids.
Learn MoreAn Overview of Seasonal Allergies in Kids
Allergies will continue as long as you are exposed to your specific allergen. Symptoms, including body aches, can often be managed with medications. If you’re not experiencing relief with over-the-counter drugs, speak to your healthcare provider about prescription treatments.Learn MoreDo You Need Prescription Medications for Allergy Relief?
Allergies will continue as long as you are exposed to your specific allergen. Symptoms, including body aches, can often be managed with medications. If you’re not experiencing relief with over-the-counter drugs, speak to your healthcare provider about prescription treatments.
Learn MoreDo You Need Prescription Medications for Allergy Relief?
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Drazdauskaitė G, Layhadi JA, Shamji MH.Mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020 Dec 12;21(1):2. doi:10.1007/s11882-020-00977-7.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Muscle aches.Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergies and Allergic Reactions.Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack of something else?Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2017;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632%2Foncotarget.23208American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Totsch SK, Sorge RE.Immune system involvement in specific pain conditions. Mol Pain. 2017;13:1744806917724559. doi:10.1177%2F1744806917724559Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR.Pleuritic chest pain: sorting through the differential diagnosis. AFP. 2017;96(5):306-312.Lai NS, Tsai TY, Koo M, Lu MC.Association of rheumatoid arthritis with allergic diseases: A nationwide population-based cohort study.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2015 Sep-Oct;36(5):99-103. doi: 10.2500/aap.2015.36.3871.Kawauchi H, Yanai K, Wang DY, Itahashi K, Okubo K.Antihistamines for Allergic Rhinitis Treatment from the Viewpoint of Nonsedative Properties.Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jan 8;20(1):213. doi:10.3390/ijms20010213.Saint Luke’s.Deep coughing.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy testing & diagnosis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.UCLA Health.Why your whole body aches when you’re sick (and what you can do about it).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu Symptoms & Complications.Bezerra LS, Silva GSB da, Santos-Veloso MAO, Bosford MAP, Carvalho ARMR.Clinical and radiological aspects of cough-induced rib fractures: a case report.Cureus. 2020;12(2). doi:10.7759/cureus.6840American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Rhinitis (hay fever).
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Drazdauskaitė G, Layhadi JA, Shamji MH.Mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020 Dec 12;21(1):2. doi:10.1007/s11882-020-00977-7.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Muscle aches.Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergies and Allergic Reactions.Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack of something else?Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2017;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632%2Foncotarget.23208American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Totsch SK, Sorge RE.Immune system involvement in specific pain conditions. Mol Pain. 2017;13:1744806917724559. doi:10.1177%2F1744806917724559Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR.Pleuritic chest pain: sorting through the differential diagnosis. AFP. 2017;96(5):306-312.Lai NS, Tsai TY, Koo M, Lu MC.Association of rheumatoid arthritis with allergic diseases: A nationwide population-based cohort study.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2015 Sep-Oct;36(5):99-103. doi: 10.2500/aap.2015.36.3871.Kawauchi H, Yanai K, Wang DY, Itahashi K, Okubo K.Antihistamines for Allergic Rhinitis Treatment from the Viewpoint of Nonsedative Properties.Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jan 8;20(1):213. doi:10.3390/ijms20010213.Saint Luke’s.Deep coughing.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy testing & diagnosis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.UCLA Health.Why your whole body aches when you’re sick (and what you can do about it).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu Symptoms & Complications.Bezerra LS, Silva GSB da, Santos-Veloso MAO, Bosford MAP, Carvalho ARMR.Clinical and radiological aspects of cough-induced rib fractures: a case report.Cureus. 2020;12(2). doi:10.7759/cureus.6840American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Rhinitis (hay fever).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Drazdauskaitė G, Layhadi JA, Shamji MH.Mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020 Dec 12;21(1):2. doi:10.1007/s11882-020-00977-7.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Muscle aches.Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergies and Allergic Reactions.Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack of something else?Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2017;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632%2Foncotarget.23208American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Totsch SK, Sorge RE.Immune system involvement in specific pain conditions. Mol Pain. 2017;13:1744806917724559. doi:10.1177%2F1744806917724559Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR.Pleuritic chest pain: sorting through the differential diagnosis. AFP. 2017;96(5):306-312.Lai NS, Tsai TY, Koo M, Lu MC.Association of rheumatoid arthritis with allergic diseases: A nationwide population-based cohort study.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2015 Sep-Oct;36(5):99-103. doi: 10.2500/aap.2015.36.3871.Kawauchi H, Yanai K, Wang DY, Itahashi K, Okubo K.Antihistamines for Allergic Rhinitis Treatment from the Viewpoint of Nonsedative Properties.Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jan 8;20(1):213. doi:10.3390/ijms20010213.Saint Luke’s.Deep coughing.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy testing & diagnosis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.UCLA Health.Why your whole body aches when you’re sick (and what you can do about it).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu Symptoms & Complications.Bezerra LS, Silva GSB da, Santos-Veloso MAO, Bosford MAP, Carvalho ARMR.Clinical and radiological aspects of cough-induced rib fractures: a case report.Cureus. 2020;12(2). doi:10.7759/cureus.6840American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Rhinitis (hay fever).
Drazdauskaitė G, Layhadi JA, Shamji MH.Mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020 Dec 12;21(1):2. doi:10.1007/s11882-020-00977-7.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Muscle aches.
Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergies and Allergic Reactions.
Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack of something else?
Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al.Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.Oncotarget. 2017;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632%2Foncotarget.23208
American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).
Totsch SK, Sorge RE.Immune system involvement in specific pain conditions. Mol Pain. 2017;13:1744806917724559. doi:10.1177%2F1744806917724559
Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR.Pleuritic chest pain: sorting through the differential diagnosis. AFP. 2017;96(5):306-312.
Lai NS, Tsai TY, Koo M, Lu MC.Association of rheumatoid arthritis with allergic diseases: A nationwide population-based cohort study.Allergy Asthma Proc. 2015 Sep-Oct;36(5):99-103. doi: 10.2500/aap.2015.36.3871.
Kawauchi H, Yanai K, Wang DY, Itahashi K, Okubo K.Antihistamines for Allergic Rhinitis Treatment from the Viewpoint of Nonsedative Properties.Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jan 8;20(1):213. doi:10.3390/ijms20010213.
Saint Luke’s.Deep coughing.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy testing & diagnosis.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.
UCLA Health.Why your whole body aches when you’re sick (and what you can do about it).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu Symptoms & Complications.
Bezerra LS, Silva GSB da, Santos-Veloso MAO, Bosford MAP, Carvalho ARMR.Clinical and radiological aspects of cough-induced rib fractures: a case report.Cureus. 2020;12(2). doi:10.7759/cureus.6840
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Rhinitis (hay fever).
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