Sometimes, you may know something is wrong with your body but not be sure if it’s a big deal or not and worth going to the doctor’s office. In some cases, you may be able to get along fine recovering at home. However, there are other times when the signs indicate you should visit the doctor, whether you like it or not.

We’ve already covered a few of these signs — like the persistence, severity, or suddenness of the symptoms — but those are fairly broad rules-of-thumb that could be used to help guide you with many different symptoms. Today, we’re looking at a few more specific signs that you should schedule a doctor’s appointment. While a trip may not be pleasant, a doctor can help diagnose any underlying causes and begin to treat them so you can get back to enjoying life.

There’s Blood Where There Shouldn’t Be

If there’s anything that’s supposed to be inside of you that’s suddenly outside of you, it’s usually indicative of something wrong (to put it mildly). If you’re bleeding profusely, you should absolutely get first aid and go to the emergency room. But, what about something more mild? If you’re seeing in your stools or urine, it’s also time to see the doctor. It could be blood that you cough up or that’s coming out of your ear. Wherever you’re seeing the blood, if it’s not coming from an open wound, you should probably at least call your doctor and ask about an appointment.

Unexpected blood is often a sign of internal bleeding and should be diagnosed fully to determine the severity.

It’s rare that unexpected blood is a thing to be brushed off. It’s often a sign of internal bleeding and should be diagnosed fully to determine the severity. This is especially true for blood found in your excrement, since this could be indicative of bleeding in your digestive system. Blood that you’ve coughed up can be a sign of an infection, though it could be more significant. The only way to know is to visit your doctor. Similarly, blood coming from your ear can be a sign of an ear infection. While unexpected blood can be alarming, it’s not always a life or death situation. That said, you should absolutely visit your doctor to find out what’s wrong.

There’s Strange Pain

Whenever you feel pain that you can’t explain, it can be concerning to say the least. This isn’t a run-of-the-mill stomachache. No, it’s a consistent pain that you’ve felt for a little while, and you’re not sure why. In medicine, it’s called idiopathic pain, or pain without an identifiable cause. It may be a dull ache or a sharp pain, but whatever the level is, you don’t know why you’re feeling it. While a dull pain may be written off as soreness from age, if it’s persistent, you should probably check with your doctor to ensure it’s not something more serious.

Some of the conditions that can cause mysterious pain are complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia.

There are many conditions that can cause idiopathic pain that you may struggle to explain. Some of the conditions that can cause mysterious pain are complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. It could be multiple sclerosis. It’s even possible to develop pain from non-physical causes, such as with psychogenic pain. Whatever the cause, if you see your doctor, you can begin to treat the pain directly or look into the underlying causes that create the pain.

The Symptoms Interfere with Life

Now, this sign may seem dramatic, but it really doesn’t have to be. Sometimes, there’s an injury or condition you’ve developed that isn’t a big deal at first, but overtime, it begins to get in the way of your life. Whether you know the cause or not, once small issues become a hinderance, it’s time to explore your treatment options. This is especially true if the symptom has progressed or gotten worse over time, which would imply that the underlying cause is also getting worse. In this case, diagnosing the issue becomes even more important to prevent further deterioration of your health.

If it’s painful enough that it hurts to get around, it may be time to stop toughing it out and investigate your options.

Of course, this is a fairly broad sign, but it can apply to many different conditions. For example, if you have an old sports injury in your knee that has gotten painful enough that it hurts to get around, it may be time to stop toughing it out and investigate your options (e.g., joint replacement surgery). If your eyesight has gotten bad enough that it’s no longer safe to drive, visit your eye doctor to find out why your eyesight has gotten worse and if there are possible treatment options. This could even include non-medical issues, like fatigue and sleep issues, since there may be a medical reason for it.

Not every concern will have an underlying condition, but it may have a solution. For example, if you’re struggling to walk, you may be able to get durable medical equipment to help you to get around. That’s why it’s important to be honest with your doctor and tell them about any symptoms you’re experiencing that are interfering with your quality of life.

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If you’re facing symptoms with an unknown cause, especially with alarming signs like blood or pain, it’s important to talk to your doctor so you can begin to treat the symptoms and the causes. Even if the symptoms aren’t raising alarms, if they’re starting to interfere with your life, seeking treatment will help you reclaim your quality of life. Whatever you’re facing, getting the help you need can reduce pain, relieve stress, and increase your quality of life. Surely, that’s worth a trip to the doctor’s office, right?