For most people, stomach aches are a regular part of life. Here’s the lowdown on six types of stomach pain you don’t want to brush aside:

1. Pain that’s not going away. Any chronic stomach discomfort—that is, persistent or recurrent pain that lasts three months or longer—warrants a visit to a doctor or nutritionist, said Liz McMahon, a Philadelphia-based registered dietitian.  This sort of discomfort includes symptoms like ongoing diarrhea, constipation, pain after eating, feeling full after just a few bites of food, bloating and gas.

These conditions could be caused by anything from irritable bowel syndrome or lactose intolerance to something more severe like gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach doesn’t empty properly, she said.

2. Pain that’s accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Stomach discomfort that comes along with nausea and vomiting can happen for a number of reasons, said Elena Ivanina, a gastroenterologist at Lenox Hill Hospital.

This includes intestinal or bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal infection, inflammation, kidney stones, a ruptured ovarian cyst, an ulcer or even a heart attack.

“Most people have suffered from the occasional stomach bug that lasts around 24 hours and know how that feels,” Ivanina said. But it’s time to see a doctor if the pain is unfamiliar, getting worse, isn’t going away, or is associated with symptoms like a fever or blood in the stool, she said.

3. Pain or discomfort along with blood in the stool. “Any blood coming from the mouth or anus needs to be evaluated by a doctor,” said Samantha Nazareth, a New York Citybased gastroenterologist.

Keep in mind that blood in the stool won’t always be red— it can also be black and tarlike, which is often indicative of bleeding from somewhere higher up in the digestive tract, such as the stomach.

Gastrointestinal bleeding can come from a number of sources including colitis, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, a bleeding gastric ulcer and gastrointestinal cancers, Nazareth said.

But certain foods and medications can also cause tarry stools, so it’s important to think about what you’re taking and eating, said Niket Sonpal, adjunct assistant professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.

4. Pain that’s sudden and intense. If you’re experiencing strong and severe stomach pain, something probably isn’t right. Specific and localized pain that involves “a sharp shooting sensation that may even take your breath away, cause you to double over or hold the area, and happens in waves” could be from an obstruction such as gallstones or kidney stones, Sonpal said.

Appendicitis is also a consideration when you’re experiencing sharp pain, Nazareth said. Severe pain can also be due to an ulcer, pancreatitis or a bile duct blockage.

5. Pain or discomfort that comes along with unexplained weight loss. “Unexpected or unintentional weight loss is always concerning and must be evaluated by a doctor whether it accompanies stomach pain or any other symptom,” Ivanina said, adding that this could be a sign of a risk for cancer, chronic pancreatitis, Crohn’s disease or other illnesses.

6. Pain or discomfort along with a fever. If you’re experiencing stomach discomfort and also have a higher body temperature than usual, this could indicate the presence of an infection. In cases like this, you’ll want to see a doctor, Sonpal said.

Ultimately, you know your body better than anyone. If you think something is wrong— even if you’re unsure that it’s serious—it’s always best to check in with a physician. (Excerpted from huffpost.com)