Body aches and chills (shivering) often occur with or before a fever.
But you might also experience them without being sick or running a fever.
Body aches are typically due toinflammation(swelling) or muscle tension.
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Chills are how the body warms itself up.
Your body does this to conserve heat and keep your vital organs (heart, brain, etc.)
Fight-or-flight causes your heart to beat faster and your muscles to tense.
The muscle tension, especially withpersistent stress, can cause body aches.
Chills can occur with stress because it can alter how your body controls temperature.
Dehydration
Dehydrationoccurs when you dont have enough fluids in your body.
It can happen because you arent drinking enough or your body is getting rid of fluid too fast.
Your body needs water for most of its functions.
Thus, dehydration can lead to some surprising symptoms andcause you to feel bad.
It can make your heart work extra hard to push blood out to the rest of the body.
Since water is an important component of muscle tissue, dehydration leads to body aches.
It can also make it more difficult for the body to regulate temperature, causing chills.
Viral Infection
Yourimmune systemfights a virus, such as a cold or the flu, by releasing inflammatory chemicals.
This process is what makes you feel achy or have a sore throat.
Your body may also raise your temperature in an attempt to kill the virus.
Sometimes, this results in chills, a fever, or both.
Chills can occur when the body tries to raise its temperature to kill the bacteria.
This happens before a fever or without the body temperature getting high enough to be a fever.
Medications
Examples of medications that can cause body aches or chills include:
7.
Seasonal Allergies
Congestion, sneezing, or watery eyes are common seasonalallergy symptoms.
Lack of Sleep
Sleep deprivationcan lead to inflammation or make inflammatory responses worse.
It can also causephysical symptomsthat can contribute to body aches and chills, such as:
10.
Chills can follow hot flashes or night sweats as the body tries to cool down.
Here are some ways to find relief at home.
Hydration
If dehydration is the culprit, symptoms typically resolve once you consume enough fluids.
Keep a bottle or glass of water close by and drink regularly.
Ginger tea is a good choice as it can help decrease inflammation.
If you think allergies could be the underlying cause, considerOTC allergy medications.
They could interact with other medications or cause complications for those with certain health conditions.
Or, you might try the 4-7-8 breathing technique as follows:
6.
Medical Treatment
Medical treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Summary
Body aches and chills can occur with or without a fever.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
For example, heat therapy can help with cold exposure or muscle tension.
However, an infection may require antiviral or antibiotic medication.
If home treatment does not resolve symptoms or they worsen, seek medical attention.
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