Plunging Libido And Other Hormonal Disasters
Links between stress and sex drive have also been made, according to The American Insitute of Stress. Exhaustion wreaks havoc on the body, and body aches and pains can increase. Sexual desires decrease, but not only because your body aches or you tire easily.
Short-term stress increases a man’s testosterone levels. Under long-term stress, the opposite occurs. That can interfere with sperm production, and erectile dysfunction and impotence may result. The sexual organs become prone to infection.
Stress in women can affect the menstrual cycle. Irregular or heavy periods can result. More painful periods. More body aches. Menopausal symptoms can magnify.
How Does Pneumonia Cause Back Pain
To understand how pneumonia causes back pain, you need to understand the nerve supply in your lungs. It is important to understand that there are virtually no pain receptors inside your lungs. You may have pneumonia without any chest pain at all.
As you can see in the picture, your lungs are covered by 2 layers of membrane-like lining, the inner lining and the outer lining. The inner lining goes in-between the fissures of your lungs. It doesnt have any pain receptors. Pain receptors are only found in the outer lining of the lungs. The outer lining is attached to your chest wall, both in the front and in the back.
Pneumonia does not not cause any pain if it doesnt lead to direct irritation of the outer lining of the lungs. When inflammation caused by pneumonia is closer to the surface, near your back, the outer lining at that spot may get irritated. This pain-sensitive outer layer is the reason you get back pain from pneumonia.
Inflammation from pneumonia must be closer to the outer lining of your lungs for you to have back pain.
How Soon After Treatment For Pneumonia Will I Begin To Feel Better
How soon you will feel better depends on several factors, including:
- Your age
- The cause of your pneumonia
- The severity of your pneumonia
- If you have other at-risk conditions
If you are generally healthy, most symptoms of bacterial pneumonia usually begin to improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. Symptoms of viral pneumonia usually begin to improve within a few days after starting treatment. A cough can last for several weeks. Most people report being tired for about a month after contracting pneumonia.
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What Is Bacterial Pneumonia
Bacteria are the most common cause of pneumonia in adults.
Bacterial pneumonia may follow a viral infection, like a cold or the flu . This type of pneumonia usually affects one area of the lung and is referred to as lobar pneumonia.
Types of bacteria that cause pneumonia include:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae type B
Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in adults, called pneumococcal pneumonia.
It may be prevented by a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two pneumonia vaccines for adults 65 years and older: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or Prevnar 13 , and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or Pneumovax 23 .
According to the CDC:
- You should receive a dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine first, followed at least one year later by a dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine .
- If you’ve already received any doses of PPSV23, the dose of PCV13 should be given at least one year after the most recent PPSV23 dose.
- If you’ve already received a dose of the PCV13 at a younger age, another dose is not recommended.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae usually infects younger adults who work in crowded areas, such as schools, homeless shelters, or prisons.
Chlamydophila pneumoniae causes a mild pneumonia infection that usually affects people older than 60.
Other bacterial pneumonia symptoms include:
- High fever
- Diarrhea
- Sore throat
Flu Vs Pneumonia: How Can You Tell The Difference

Influenza and pneumonia have some common symptoms, but they are not the same. Knowing which illness is which will help you get timely, appropriate care and avoid complications.
When you find yourself coughing and running a fever, flu or pneumonia could be responsible. To get the treatment you need, and lower the risk of serious complications from either condition, it is important to understand the differences between flu versus pneumonia symptoms. The causes can differ as well. Flu is caused by viruses, but pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Also, pneumonia can develop as a flu complication.
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Pneumonia Puts Stress On The Heart And Can Lead To Blood Clot Formation
Pneumonia also makes it more difficult for the lungs to transfer oxygen from the air into the blood while at the same time, causing the heart to demand more oxygen. This puts a lot of stress on the body and can lead to heart problems. Medical researchers have found another reason for the connection between bacterial pneumonia and heart problems. Pneumonia increases the amount of cytokine, a chemical signal, in the blood. This cytokine is known to cause the formation of blood clots. These blood clots decrease the effectiveness of the heart and put it at risk.
Signs Of Pneumonia Vaccine Side Effects
As with any vaccination, there are potential side effects of the pneumonia vaccination. Common side effects include:
Injection site soreness
As with most shots and vaccinations, you may experience pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site .
Less than 1% of people who receive a pneumonia vaccine develop a fever. If your temperature is above 100.4 F , you have a fever.
Irritability
Irritability is a feeling of agitation. When you’re feeling irritable, you’re more likely to become frustrated or upset. In children, this may present as fussiness.
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Why Does It Take So Long To Recover From Pneumonia
You can’t see the damage pneumonia causes, but you certainly feel it.
The air sacs in your lungs become inflamed during pneumonia, leading to soreness and pain. If the infection and inflammation progress, your lungs may fill with fluid and dead lung tissue, leading to the green, yellow or even bloody mucus you cough up. This fluid may also affect how well oxygen is able to transfer into your bloodstream, leading to difficulty breathing.
“Once the infection is cleared with treatment, your body still has to deal with removing all of the fluid, damage and debris left behind in your lungs. This can take a few weeks, resulting in a lingering cough and reduced lung capacity,” explains Dr. Lee. “During this time, you may find physical exertion more tiring than usual.”
A more severe case of pneumonia can cause even more damage to your lungs, which can be significant and even permanent in some cases.
“After severe pneumonia, lung capacity is reduced and muscles may be weak from being so ill. Significant weight loss can further contribute to weakness and other health conditions may be aggravated due to the stress placed on the body during illness. These are all things your body will need time to recover from,” says Dr. Lee.
In fact, it may take another several months for you to fully heal and regain strength.
The Dangers Of Antibiotic Drugs Used As Treatment
Interestingly enough, the antibiotics that were developed to deal with bacterial pneumonia also have a damaging effect on the heart. Most of these antibiotics used for treating pneumonia, only cause the bacteria to burst open and expel its poisonous contents outward. The pneumolysin is released directly into the heart causing severe damage. There is hope that other medications will be able to treat pneumonia without putting the heart at extra risk. Antibiotics known as the bacteriostats may be the more appropriate form of medication.
Bacterial Pneumonia and heart problems often go hand in hand. In fact, as many as 20% of people who are hospitalized for bacterial pneumonia are also found to have potentially dangerous heart problems. These heart problems can evolve into heart attacks,heart failure, and abnormal heart rhythms. That is not surprising as pneumonia affects the heart in many ways. It creates micro-lesions on its surface, causes the death of heart cells and heart muscle cells, increases clot-formation, and puts a lot of pressure on the heart. By knowing that the two are often connected, it is possible to diagnose heart problems early on and treat them in time.
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Why Do I Experience Body Aches And Chills
The symptoms are inevitably a sign that something is going on inside your body. It definitely makes you wish you could stay in bed all day long. It can also make you wonder what is wrong. Here are some of the more common causes:
1. Viruses
Viruses are infections that take over the cells in the body. They can cause mild, moderate or severe illness.
Symptoms: Body aches, fever, chills, and severe fatigue. They can also cause weakness, coughing, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What to Do: Simple viruses just need rest, fluids, and time to recover. Antibiotics do not help viruses. If you run an unusually high fever , have a severe cough, or cannot keep food or fluids down, you need medical evaluation.
2. Mononucleosis
This is a viral infection that causes swollen lymph nodes and overall body aches and chills. The illness lasts weeks to months, but the fatigue can be permanent.
Symptoms: Fever, chills, sore throat, abdominal pain, aches, profound fatigue, and enlarged spleen.
What to Do: If you have viral symptoms that do not clear up in 7 to 10 days, see your doctor. You may need tested for mono. Sudden sharp pain in your left side is a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or get to your nearest emergency room. Mono is treated with rest and increased fluids.
3. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Symptoms: Daily fatigue that lasts for 6 months or longer. Viral like symptoms including: body aches, chills, low grade fevers, brain fog and trouble thinking.
4. Autoimmune Disease
6. Tuberculosis
How Is Pneumonia Spread From Person To Person
Pneumonia is spread when droplets of fluid containing the pneumonia bacteria or virus are launched in the air when someone coughs or sneezes and then inhaled by others. You can also get pneumonia from touching an object previously touched by the person with pneumonia or touching a tissue used by the infected person and then touching your mouth or nose.
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How Is Walking Pneumonia Diagnosed
Walking pneumonia is usually diagnosed through a physical examination. The doctor will check your child’s breathing and listen for a hallmark crackling sound that often indicates walking pneumonia.
If needed, a chest X-ray or tests of mucus samples from the throat or nose might be done to confirm the diagnosis.
Questions About Your Symptoms

Bacterial pneumonia, which is the most common form, tends to be more serious than other types of pneumonia, with symptoms that require medical care. The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can develop gradually or suddenly. Fever may rise as high as a dangerous 105 degrees F, with profuse sweating and rapidly increased breathing and pulse rate. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. A patient’s mental state may be confused or delirious.
The symptoms of viral pneumonia usually develop over a period of several days. Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain. There may be a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.
Symptoms may vary in certain populations. Newborns and infants may not show any signs of the infection. Or, they may vomit, have a fever and cough, or appear restless, sick, or tired and without energy. Older adults and people who have serious illnesses or weak immune systems may have fewer and milder symptoms. They may even have a lower than normal temperature. Older adults who have pneumonia sometimes have sudden changes in mental awareness. For individuals that already have a chronic lung disease, those symptoms may worsen.
When to call a doctor
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Illnesses That Can Cause Body Aches Without A Fever
See below for more information on treatment
Cause | Some Other Symptoms | ||
---|---|---|---|
The flu |
Severe aches in the muscles and joints is one of the hallmark symptoms of the flu |
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. |
Extreme fatigue, dry cough, sore throat and runny nose, fever, headache, pain and tiredness around eyes |
The common cold |
Body aches all over |
Cold symptoms appear over the course of a few days |
Similar to flu but less severe fever not usually present and if it is, it is usually low-grade |
Pneumonia |
Body aches similar to flu |
Coughing greenish, yellow, or bloody mucus being out of breath |
High fever, chills and shakes, feeling out of breath, rapid breathing, sharp chest pain |
Mono |
Symptoms last for a long time |
Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes all over the body, fatigue, loss of appetite |
|
Strep |
Throat is very sore , and there is no cough |
Fever, swollen lymph nodes, red dots on back of roof of mouth, swollen tonsils |
|
Arthritis |
Stiffness, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity |
Pain is mostly felt in joints, especially hands and feet |
Can vary depending on the type of arthritis |
Fibromyalgia |
Constant dull ache that has lasted for more than 3 months |
Length of time of symptoms |
Mental fog, fatigue, sleep disorders, mood disorders |
Lupus |
Persistent aching |
Many, but not all, people who suffer from lupus develop a distinguishing butterfly-shape rash on the face |
Symptoms can vary widely from case to case |
How Can I Tell If I Have Pneumonia Versus The Common Cold Or The Flu
Do I have a cold or could it be the flu or even pneumonia? Its tough to tell the difference but critical to know when to seek medical care
Watch for these ongoing symptoms that occur in pneumonia:
- Serious congestion or chest pain.
- Difficulty breathing.
- A fever of 102 or higher.
- Coughing that produces pus.
Pneumonia symptoms last longer than cold and flu. If your symptoms arent severe, its okay to try such home remedies as getting more rest, drinking more fluids and taking some over-the-counter medicines and see what happens. But if you dont see improvement in your symptoms after three to five days, or if you are experiencing more serious symptoms such as dizziness or severe difficulty breathing, see your healthcare provider. Dont let it go. Pneumonia-like symptoms in very young children or in adults older than 65 are a cause for concern. Also, pneumonia can cause permanent lung damage if left untreated for too long. And always seek immediate care if you experience chest pain or have breathing difficulties.
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Back Pain From Pneumonia
Back pain is a common symptom of pneumonia. In the last 15 years, I have personally treated thousands of patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Many of them had back pain. I am writing this article based on my personal experience as well as a review of relevant medical journals.
In this article, I will describe:
Could It Be Something Else
The flu virus can sometimes be confused for other conditions, such as pneumonia. If you have a cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, fatigue, and low appetite, in addition to a sharp chest pain, a fever that doesn’t go away, or you are coughing up a lot of phlegm, see your healthcare provider to rule pneumonia out.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Pneumonia
Pneumonia symptoms can vary from so mild you barely notice them, to so severe that hospitalization is required. How your body responds to pneumonia depends on the type germ causing the infection, your age and your overall health.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:
- Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus
- Fever, sweating and shaking chills
- Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
- Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting, especially in small children
- Confusion, especially in older people
Pneumonia Warning Signs And Symptoms
Pneumonia can affect just about anyone, from infants and children to adults and the elderly. The pulmonary condition causes inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs.Infection from viruses and bacteria, certain drugs, and chemicals that irritate the lungs are all potential causes. Depending on the cause, pneumonia can be treated effectively, though quick treatment has the best results.Anyone experiencing multiple symptoms of pneumonia should seek medical advice. Due to the similarity of symptoms, it can be difficult to differentiate between pneumonia and COVID-19, so receiving a correct diagnosis is essential.
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The Effects Of Pneumonia On The Body
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. Bacteria and viruses are the most common causes of pneumonia. Fungi can induce pneumonia, too. The infection causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. This results in a buildup of fluid that makes it hard to breathe. Pneumonia can be a medical emergency, especially among high-risk groups like people over 65 and children 5 or younger.
Pneumonia typically affects the lungs, but complications can lead to problems in other areas of the body, too. These can be very serious and even deadly. Your risk, treatment, and recovery time depend on what caused the infection, your age, and any additional health issues you had before getting pneumonia.