Yes, they can. Allergies cause body aches by triggering an inflammatory response to an allergen that affects muscles and joints.
An allergen like pollen or mold triggers your body’s inflammatory response, leading to muscle and joint pain. Common symptoms of allergy-related body aches are joint pain, muscle soreness from coughing, and fatigue, which can mimic other conditions.
Stay connected to the end of this post to learn about why allergies cause body aches.
How Allergies Cause Body Aches
Allergy sufferers often report fatigue and body pain. These discomforts occur when allergens like pollen or mold spores get into your system.
The production of IgE antibodies starts this response, releasing histamines that cause muscle aches and joint pain.
Environmental irritants, especially mold spores, can make allergy symptoms worse during peak seasons.
So allergy season brings a flood of pollen and moisture that intensifies allergic reactions, not just respiratory issues but also muscle soreness and joint aches.
Food allergies can cause overwhelming fatigue on top of body pain.
Allergy-Related Body Aches and Symptoms
It can be hard to determine if body aches are due to allergies, as they can mimic other conditions. Typical signs that your body aches are allergy related are joint discomfort and general malaise.
Continuous coughing and sneezing from allergens can cause muscle pain and fatigue factors that contribute to allergy related body aches.
Prolonged exposure to allergy triggers can cause muscle discomfort from the strain of continuous coughing or sneezing, which is different from viral infections.
Common Triggers of Allergy-Induced Pain
Studies have shown that in the US, more than 100 million people have different kinds of allergies, such as food allergies, seasonal allergies, and eczema. Allergy pain triggers are:
- Airborne allergens like animal dander
- Mold
- Pollen
- Grass
- Ragweed
These irritants cause inflammation and immune responses that cause body aches.
Seasonal allergies, especially in spring, are triggered by pollen, grass, mold, and ragweed. Reducing exposure to these allergens by staying indoors on high pollen days and using air purifiers can manage symptoms and prevent body aches.
Inflammation in Allergy Pain
Inflammation is the root of the discomfort during allergic reactions. When allergens get into your body, it produces IgE antibodies, which triggers an inflammatory response associated with allergy symptoms.
This immune response releases substances that cause inflammation, which causes joint and muscle aches.
The physical signs of this inflammation aren’t limited to joint and muscle pain; they also include swelling and tenderness from allergic reactions.
Inhaling allergens can cause sore throat and chest pain from inflammation adding to overall body aches.
Allergy Symptoms vs Other Conditions
Allergies can trigger an immune response that causes chronic body aches, but they don’t come with the extreme fatigue of chronic fatigue syndrome. Muscle aches and fever are usually associated with viral infections like the flu and not an allergic response.
Unlike viral infections, which have a specific duration, allergy symptoms will subside once you’re no longer exposed to the allergen.
Both COVID-19 and allergic reactions have overlapping symptoms, but it’s rare for allergies alone to cause breathing difficulties unless there’s an underlying respiratory condition.
Treatments for Allergy-Related Body Aches
Managing allergy-related body aches is a combination of over-the-counter meds, home remedies, and medical treatments.
Antihistamines and nasal spray steroids can relieve symptoms and body aches. Taking allergy meds during allergy season can also manage symptoms effectively.
Mild exercises and stretching can ease muscle tension and prevent allergy-related aches. Applying heat or cold packs to the affected areas can give temporary relief.
Over-the-Counter Medicines
Over-the-counter antihistamines like cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine can control allergic reactions and symptoms.
Decongestants like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine can reduce nasal congestion by constricting swollen nasal passages.
Pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen can ease muscle aches and joint pain caused by allergies. These meds are good for various allergy-related discomforts and can relieve many allergy sufferers.
Home Remedies
Natural remedies can manage body aches related to allergies. Warm baths and heating pads can ease sore muscles; staying hydrated is key to symptom management.
If heat doesn’t work, cold therapy through ice packs can help relieve pain. These home remedies are a natural way to relieve body aches caused by allergies.
Medical Treatments
If you suspect you have allergies, consult a doctor for testing. In severe allergic reactions, immunotherapy or allergy shots may be recommended to gradually build up your body’s immunity to allergens.
Physicians may recommend corticosteroids to lessen allergic reaction-induced inflammation.
Allergy-Related Body Aches Prevention
Preventing allergy-related body aches is key to staying healthy during allergy season. Avoid known triggers like pollen or dust mites. Staying indoors on high pollen days and using air purifiers can reduce body aches.
Wearing a mask outdoors can minimize exposure to airborne allergens like pollen, which can relieve body aches.
Regular dusting and vacuuming to keep your space clean can reduce allergen exposure.
Hypoallergenic bedding covers can protect against dust mite allergies and reduce reactions and discomfort.
When to See a Doctor
If symptoms don’t improve with over-the-counter meds, see a doctor. Persistent symptoms may be another underlying condition. See a doctor if symptoms worsen or new symptoms appear.
A physical examination by a doctor can determine if symptoms are from allergies or another condition and create a personalized plan.
The Bottom Line on Can Allergies Cause Body Aches
The answer is yes. Allergies can cause body aches as the immune response and inflammation from allergens affect the body. As you can see, allergy sufferers can indeed experience body aches as a reaction of their immune systems to allergens.
Because of this, you should only do these things with the help of a medical professional if you want to do them right and safely.
