Allergic reactions are common occurrences in our lives, and in most instances, their effects and severity differ from one person to another depending on the immunity and other underlying factors.
Allergies often manifest a wide range of symptoms, some of which are more obvious (such as runny nose or sneezing) while others may not be so apparent.
For instance, rarely do people associate joint pain, muscle aches, and fatigue with allergies.
But can allergies really cause muscle and joint pain?
Absolutely! There are plenty of ways allergies are related to muscle and joint pain. In fact, the truth is: when allergies cause body inflammations, muscle and joint pains are inevitable.
To help you understand why an allergy may be the cause of your muscle or joint pain, let’s delve deeper into the relation between the two.
For starters, seasonal allergies often manifest similar symptoms as common colds (itchy eyes, running nose, and sore throat among others).
The difference may be very hard to recognize considering that seasonal allergies usually manifest in joint and muscle pain too as in the case with colds.
Therefore, until other symptoms are put into considerations, joint and muscle pain may be directly linked to seasonal allergies and common colds.
Additionally, allergies cause increased inflammation in various parts of the body as the antibodies fight foreign allergens that are responsible for the allergies.
Your throat, nose, and eyes, get inflamed because your immune system is fighting hard to protect your body against the allergens.
As a result of the pressure that is exerted on the immune system, the body gets exhausted, which may cause pain and aches in your muscles and joints.
So, fatigue is another reason why allergies can cause joint and muscle pains. When the body feels tired, muscle and joint pain symptoms even become worse.
In fact, this is why many arthritis patients complain of severe joint pains after consuming certain types of food that they are allergic to.
What’s more, if you experience coughing and sneezing as a result of exposure to allergens, you may suffer from neck, muscle, and joint pain due to the repeated act of coughing and sneezing.
Lastly, according to the Southern California Food Allergy Institute, any food or substance that causes a reaction of the body’s immune system can trigger muscle and joint pains in various parts of the body.
Bottom-line
Although not always directly related, some allergies play a critical role in the development and worsening of joint and muscle pains.
So, whether it is pollen, gluten, dairy products or an assortment of other types of food, eliminating allergy triggers from your diet can go a long way in helping you manage muscle and joint pain.
Anti-inflammatory treatments or diets will also benefit your overall health and well-being.
If you are not sure whether allergies may be the main cause of your muscle and joint pain, the best way to distinguish between the symptoms is to take antihistamines.
If your muscle or joint pains persist after taking antihistamines for a period of one week or beyond the allergy seasons, consider consulting an orthopedic surgeon.