Pain along with certain symptoms can be particularly worrisome.

When it comes to severe medical situations, emergency medicine doctors see it all. They’re the physicians who folks of all ages rush to when something serious goes wrong. But just what does “serious” mean? What kinds of pain constitute a visit to the emergency department? Experts say that it’s a hard question to answer.

“Unfortunately, it can be so variable from patient to patient, and sometimes people that even have minor pain may have something very serious going on. So [pain is] not something that anybody should ignore,” said Dr. Michael Turturro, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Meaning, you should take pain seriously and see a doctor if you have any concerns. It’s better to be told nothing is wrong than to regret not seeing a medical professional sooner. (We know there are financial considerations that come along with this — more on that below.)

While all pain is worth taking seriously, experts told HuffPost there are certain pains that are generally across-the-board alarming and reason enough for medical attention. Here’s what they are:

1. Sudden Pain That Doesn’t Go Away

“Generally, pain that is sudden and severe and does not go away is something that should really get your attention,” Turturro said. This goes for pain anywhere on your body, he noted.

A medical professional will need to evaluate the pain and determine if it’s serious or not, but if you have a sudden and alarming new pain, it’s a good idea to get it checked out and not to ignore it.

“We’d rather people err on the side of caution,” Turturro added. “If they’re concerned enough that they feel something is not right and they need to be evaluated, then they should be evaluated whether or not it’s related to something serious or not.”

Say you’re worried about new hand pain that came out of nowhere. Instead of brushing it off, consider seeing a doctor.

“If it’s concerning enough that it is troubling to you, and particularly if it’s a pain you’ve never experienced before, that’s something you should........

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