Millions of people deal with pain every day — such as chronic pain from osteoarthritis or diabetic neuropathy, or acute pain from an injury, a migraine, or a sprain.

And it's important to respect what those signals are saying: "Pay attention to me and do something about your pain."

But there are times when pain is a sign of normal soreness, and not something that should send you to the doctor or make you stop doing whatever activities may be associated with it.

Learning to know the difference is vital for increasing your strength and stamina and protecting your immediate and long-term health.

What exercise physiologists call delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a stiff, achy feeling in muscles and body parts that reaches a peak 24 to 72 hours after physical activity (exercise, gardening, or painting a room). DOMS is triggered by tiny tears in your muscle fibers that are necessary for you to build stronger muscles as your body repairs itself.

If you experience DOMS (you actually want to), you can get relief with an Epsom salt soak, applying ice and/or heat to affected areas, massaging the area, or even doing light exercise to stretch tight muscles.

Also, stay well-hydrated.

For a body-loving exercise routine, check out my book, "The RealAge Workout: Maximum Health, Minimum Work."