It’s natural to hope an ache or pain will just go away. But some don’t, while other symptoms silently sneak up on you. Here are six examples that should prompt a call to your doctor:

1.  Continued weight loss. Your weight can go up or down 2-3 pounds in the course of a day. However, continued weight loss that can’t be explained by diet or exercise may be a sign of depression, diabetes, cancer or an overactive thyroid.

2.  Persistent or unusual headaches. Any new or extremely painful headache warrants immediate medical attention — especially if you don’t usually get headaches, the pain causes you to miss work or social activities and over-the-counter painkillers don’t help, or the pain is different from your usual headache.

3.  Mysterious bleeding. Call your doctor if you notice any rectal bleeding, blood in the urine or blood when you vomit or cough. Although these can be signs of something simple, such as hemorrhoids in the case of rectal bleeding, they can also signal something more serious, such as cancerous growths.

4.  Abdominal pain. Abdominal pain that occurs before a meal and is relieved by food may simply be an ulcer or GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease. But other kinds of stomach distress may indicate more serious causes, such as heart problems, gallstones, intestinal obstructions, infection or cancer.

5.  Skin changes. A mouth or skin sore that won’t heal, a change in the size or color of a mole or wart, or a lump or thickening in the breast or elsewhere should all be checked out by a physician.

6.  Sadness. Everyone feels blue now and then. But if you feel sad or irritable most of the time for at least two weeks and have lost interest in activities that once gave you pleasure, you may be suffering from depression. Although serious, it is highly treatable, so speak to your doctor without delay.