Pain symptoms you shouldn’t ignore

3. CHEST PAIN  An older adult experiencing any type of chest pain should be evaluated by a doctor right away, says Hanak, who notes that a heart attack doesn’t always manifest as sudden,

crushing pain: “A lot of times, it’s pressure, heaviness or tightness with breathing.” Other signs of a heart attack are dizziness, fatigue or shortness of breath while doing ordinary

activities like going up the stairs or gardening. Chest pain may also be a signal that a blood clot has moved to your lungs or heart — a life-threatening condition that needs immediate

treatment. 4. PAIN IN ONE OR BOTH ARMS, YOUR JAW OR BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES  These lesser-known symptoms of a heart attack are more likely to affect women, according to the American

Heart Association. Nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness and lightheadedness are other heart attack symptoms to look for. Severe pain between the shoulder blades can also be 

caused by an aneurysm or a tear in your aorta, a major blood vessel. 5. THE WORST HEADACHE OF YOUR LIFE  An occasional headache is usually nothing to worry about. More concerning is one

that feels more severe than usual, Leap says. A headache is worrisome as well if it’s accompanied by neck stiffness, weakness or vision change, or if you recently hit your head. And know

that if you’re on blood thinners, simply bumping your head on a door frame can cause dangerous bleeding in your skull. 6. SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN  Pain in your abdomen that keeps getting

worse — or is associated with vomiting, swelling or a fever — can be a marker of acute appendicitis, a serious infection, or diverticulitis. “You know your body,” Leap says. “If you’ve had

this pain on and off for years, that’s one thing. But if it’s new and it doesn’t let up or it keeps getting worse, I want to see you.” 7. CALF OR THIGH PAIN, ESPECIALLY IF IN JUST ONE LEG 

Increasing pain in your calf or thigh after a period of inactivity, even if it’s not severe, can be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This dangerous type of blood clot is especially

common in patients recovering from knee or hip surgery, Hanak says. Patients sometimes describe the pain as feeling like a muscle cramp, and it’s often accompanied by leg swelling or

redness. DVTs need to be treated right away because the clots can travel through your bloodstream and block the blood supply to your lungs, a life-threatening condition called pulmonary

embolism. 8. SEVERE BACK PAIN THAT LASTS MORE THAN 72 HOURS  Back pain is common — affecting about 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lives — and it typically improves on its own

with rest, ice and pain relievers. However, intense back pain that lasts more than three days can be a sign of a more serious problem, especially if the pain worsens when you bend or twist,

says Douglas D. Dickson, M.D., an assistant professor of orthopedic and spine surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. You may have a torn muscle or

ligament, a compression fracture or a cancer that has metastasized to the spine, Dickson says.