What Are the 7 Pains You Should Never Ignore?

Everyone has a different pain threshold. What might seem deadly to you may be a pinch to someone else. Apart from occasional body aches and random pains, there are some pains that you must get checked out.

These pains could indicate serious underlying conditions, such as cancer, arthritis, and inflammation. Ignoring them may make the condition worse. In some cases, ignoring these pains could be life-threatening, too.

These are seven pains you shouldn't ignore, especially if they are too intense or have been going on for days.

Having pain in your stomach or the abdominal region is common. It could be due to something you ate or might just be gas. But if you have a sudden and intense pain in the lower right side of your stomach that keeps getting worse with time, you need to get checked.

The pain could be due to appendicitis, inflammation of the appendix. Surgery is needed to remove the inflamed organ before it bursts and causes death. Similarly, if you have pain in the middle of your abdomen towards the top, it could be a sign of concern.

If the pain radiates to your upper back and also makes you feel nauseous, pancreatitis could be the reason. It is the inflammation of the pancreas. You may also have gallstones that a surgeon needs to remove right away.

It is not uncommon to feel pain during or after exercise. If it's just the "burn" you feel from cardio or lifting weights, you shouldn't be worried. But if the pain gets worse, from dull and sharp to throbbing and aching, you need to go to a doctor.

If the pain lasts for days after the workout, that's also a reason to worry. You may have a tear or a fracture that's causing so much pain.

If any kind of pain is accompanied by swelling, that could be an indication of an infection. If the pain and swelling do not go away after a few hours or keep getting worse, you should consult a doctor.

A headache could be just a migraine or a symptom of a brain tumor. So, it's up to you to determine when you need to get medical help and when a painkiller would suffice.

If the symptoms are more severe than you have ever experienced, get checked. There is a wide range of diseases you could be diagnosed with, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, stroke, or a brain tumor.

The bottom line is if you think you're having the "worst headache of your life," you should head over to the emergency room.

Not all chest pains indicate a heart attack. But chest pain is the most prominent symptom of a heart attack. If you feel something really heavy is sitting on your chest, call an ambulance. Men who have had heart attacks describe the feeling as if an elephant is sitting on their chest.

Women and the elderly have more subtle symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea, and pain in the shoulders or neck.

If you think you might be having a heart attack, do not drive yourself to the hospital. Ask a friend to drive you or call for an ambulance.

If you experience pain in the big toe, that could be a sign of gout. It's a form of arthritis more painful than others and is caused due to uric acid buildup. Uric acid is formed when the body digests certain foods, like alcohol, red meat, soft drinks, and other food items rich in fructose.

Using over-the-counter painkillers may help get rid of the pain. But you still need medical help from a specialized doctor to treat the problem.

Untreated gout can lead to more severe problems, such as kidney failure and kidney stones.

Menstrual cramps can be the bane of your existence if you have a low pain threshold. But after experiencing them every month, you know what your "normal" pain intensity is.

If you experience more pain than that, it's time to go to your gynecologist. Your doctor will do certain tests and a physical exam to rule out severe problems, such as ovarian cancer, STDs, and noncancerous uterine tumors.

Excessive pain could also be a sign of endometriosis. The sooner you get it checked, the better treatment you can get. If endometriosis causes infertility in your situation, your doctor will recommend surgery to remove this tissue and help you conceive.