Muscle Aches

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Muscle pains are usually known as muscle aches or myalgias. Pain can be felt in one muscle only or it can involve a group of muscles as well. It mostly happens when we do a physical work that we are not used to do. Any injury to muscle can also cause muscle ache. It can also be the symptom of many diseases and disorders. Muscle pain can also involve ligaments and tendons through which muscle is attached to other muscles and bones respectively.

CAUSES

Muscle pain can be due to following reasons:

• Injury: Any injury to the muscle causes pain because muscle fibres are damaged and these contain nerve endings which causes pain.
• Tension: Due to stress or some tension, muscles accumulate certain materials which causes pain.
• Overuse: When we do strenuous exercise or hard physical work, sometimes microfibres are damaged. This can be the reason of muscle aches.
• Infections: There are certain infections of which muscle pains are the major symptoms. These include flu, malaria, muscle abscess (collection of pus in muscles), polio, etc.
• Electrolyte imbalance: When electrolytes level (sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride) is disturbed in the body, it causes muscle pains.
• Autoimmune disorders: Sometimes our defence system starts working against our own body. These disorders include systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, etc.
• Certain drugs: Some of the drugs can also cause myalgias. These include some blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs and cocaine.