Health anxiety, often overlooked in discussions about mental well-being, is a serious condition that affects a person’s thoughts and daily activities.
Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder or hypochondria, is a condition where a person becomes overly worried about having or developing a serious illness, even though there are little to no physical symptoms.
The person often goes through medical examinations that show no underlying health issues. This can result in high levels of anxiety or distress about what their symptoms could mean. For example, they might feel a normal bodily sensation, like dizziness when standing up, or experience a harmless condition, such as occasional ringing in the ears, and assume it’s a sign of a serious illness. However, in cases where the person does experience a medical condition, they often view the health issue as much more dangerous than it is in reality.
People suffering from health anxiety are easily alarmed by anything related to illness, even hearing about someone else getting sick or healing health-related news stories. Even when reassured by professionals or seeing negative test results, individuals may still worry excessively about their health. Reassurance from medical professionals may, in some cases, even worsen the anxiety. This constant concern about health may even start to take over their life, affecting daily activities and becoming a core part of their identity and conversations.
Moreover, people with health anxiety often check themselves for signs of illness (for example, looking at their throat in the mirror). They are also obsessed with information about diseases, researching related topics online, and asking friends, family, and medical professionals for advice and information.
Symptoms of Health Anxiety
In essence, some of the most common symptoms of health anxiety include:
- Excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, even without physical symptoms.
- Interpreting normal bodily sensations (e.g., dizziness or ringing in the ears) as signs of severe illness.
- Viewing existing medical conditions as much more dangerous than they are.
- Being easily alarmed by illness-related news or hearing about others getting sick.
- Persistent worry about health despite medical reassurance or negative test results.
- Constantly checking for signs of illness (e.g., inspecting their throat in the mirror).
- Obsession with researching diseases and seeking information from others about health.
However, Cleaveland Clinic also includes symptoms such as:
- Avoiding people or places out of fear of catching an illness.
- Frequently sharing details about their symptoms and health with others.
- Feeling uncomfortable with natural bodily functions, such as sweating.
- Seeking reassurance from loved ones about health concerns.

Symptoms that Support the Diagnosis of Health Anxiety
People with health anxiety are more often encountered in medical settings than in mental health settings since they believe that they are physically ill. While some may undergo extensive medical care and find it unsatisfactory, others may suffer from the condition but feel too anxious to seek medical help (even though they want to seek medical help). Crucially, medical attention may even make symptoms of the condition worse since it can sometimes lead to complications from unnecessary tests and procedures.
Moreover, individuals suffering from health anxiety are often unsatisfied with the medical care they receive, feeling that doctors do not take them seriously.
Prevalence of Health Anxiety
The National Library of Medicine explains that health illness anxiety disorder, or health anxiety, is a relatively new diagnosis, first introduced in 2013. Because of this, it is not yet determined how many people suffer from the condition, but it is estimated to be around 0.1% of the general population. However, these findings may vary depending on where the study was conducted, as, for example, in outpatient clinics, approximately 0.75% of patients suffer from the condition.
Causes of Health Anxiety
According to Think CBT, the causes of health anxiety can vary from person to person. However, there are some common factors that may trigger the condition:
- Having suffered a serious illness during childhood.
- Experiencing a major illness or health scare as an adult.
- Having a close friend or family member that suffered a serious illness.
- The death of a loved one.
- Dealing with physical symptoms caused by another anxiety disorder.
- Having close family members or friends who also struggle with health anxiety.
Moreover, Mayo Clinic lists other risk factors for health anxiety, such as:
- Major life stress.
- A health scare that ends up being less serious than initially feared.
- A history of childhood abuse.
- Personality traits like being naturally inclined to worry.
- Frequent use of the internet to search for health-related information.

The Impact of Health Anxiety
As mentioned, despite health anxiety being a relatively new term, an article from 2024 reviews the current research conducted on this topic. The article emphasizes how health anxiety can have a detrimental impact on not only individuals but society as well.
The article states that people with health anxiety tend to:
- Rate their own health as worse.
- Struggle with daily activities and tasks (like household tasks and self-care).
- Experience high levels of anxiety and stress.
Health anxiety can also impact society since the condition can lead to more work absences compared to the general population and cause a higher use of unnecessary healthcare services.
Conditions that Occur alongside Health Anxiety
Since health anxiety is relatively new, it is not yet researched enough which conditions co-occur alongside it. However, hypochondriasis, a related condition, commonly occurs with anxiety disorders and depressive disorders.
Moreover, around two-thirds of the people that suffer from health anxiety are expected to have at least one more major mental health condition. They may also be at higher risk for developing somatic symptom disorder (a person having a significant focus on physical symptoms) and certain personality disorders.
The Difference between Health Anxiety and General Anxiety
Although health anxiety and general anxiety share many characteristics, it is important to differentiate between these two conditions. General anxiety typically involves worrying about various aspects of life, such as work, finances, or relationships. In contrast, health anxiety focuses almost exclusively on one’s physical health. It is important to recognize the triggers and specific behaviors of each condition since this also influences the type of treatment.

Health Anxiety in the Digital Age
How the Internet Feeds Fears?
The internet has become a powerful tool for accessing health information, offering instant access to a vast array of medical resources. However, for individuals suffering from health anxiety, the internet can become a double-edged sword, intensifying their fears rather than easing them. The constant urge to search for explanations for symptoms, often referred to as “cyberchondria”, is one of the most common behaviors among those with health anxiety. What starts as a simple query about a minor symptom can quickly spiral into hours of reading worst-case scenarios, leading the individual to believe they have a serious, often rare, illness.
One of the main reasons the internet exacerbates health anxiety is the sheer volume of unfiltered information available. Medical websites, forums, and symptom checkers can present the most severe or life-threatening conditions alongside common, harmless ones, leaving the anxious individual to assume the worst. Furthermore, many online health resources lack context or fail to consider individual differences, which can cause significant distress.
Additionally, the internet creates a feedback loop that perpetuates anxiety. People with health anxiety often seek reassurance by reading about others’ experiences, which can validate their fears rather than alleviate them. This pattern of reassurance-seeking becomes addictive, reinforcing the anxiety and making it harder to trust medical professionals or objective test results.
In this way, the internet can significantly fuel the fears of those struggling with health anxiety, making it essential to approach online health searches with caution.

Supporting Someone with Health Anxiety
Supporting a loved one suffering from health anxiety can be challenging, but it’s important to approach the person with empathy and understanding. Although the initial reaction may be to provide reassurance to lessen the person’s worries about their health, this is not effective in the long term. It is more helpful to encourage them to seek professional advice and focus on managing their anxiety in healthy ways.
However, it is also important to not directly reject their concerns but to provide emotional support without engaging in detailed conversation about their health, as this could reinforce existing anxieties. Moreover, it is also important to educate oneself about the condition, as this allows you to better understand what your loved one is going through and how you can support them more effectively.
Health Anxiety and COVID-19
The constant media updates and wide-spread fear of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased health anxiety. Many started interpreting even minor symptoms as signs of COVID and fearing further health implications. Moreover, lockdowns and isolation increased anxiety further, while uncertainty about the virus’s long-term effects deepened stress.
Studies that are researching this topic, such as a study published in Sage Journals, confirmed that the rise in health anxiety is linked to heightened awareness of symptoms, fear of infection, and uncertainty about the COVID virus. Worryingly, the study also associates health anxiety with other serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, and sleep problems.
Furthermore, a study published in 2023 found that 12.1% of participants experienced health anxiety following the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain factors, like being over 30 years old, female, single, or having a relative who had COVID-19, raised the likelihood of developing health anxiety. Notably, participants whose relatives or family members contracted COVID-19 were found to be 5.32 times more likely to have health anxiety.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, as the study emphasizes, it may have a left long-lasting psychological impact that still needs to be recognized and addressed accordingly.

Health Anxiety and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Think CBT explains the connection between health anxiety and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an effective treatment option. Health anxiety is described as a constant source of worry and frustration for those affected. This ongoing anxiety leads to behaviors like:
- constant checking,
- seeking reassurance, and f
- requent medical appointments or tests.
While getting reassurance or tests may ease their worry in the short term, it reinforces the belief that their anxiety can only be relieved by a definite answer. Ultimately, this creates a harmful cycle of behaviors, feelings, and reactions to various stimulations.
Because of this, CBT is an excellent treatment method for health anxiety since it focuses on recognizing and challenging negative thought patterns that lead to emotional or behavioral responses or actions. As Think CBT explains, CBT helps individuals explore and challenge these negative beliefs about their health. In this way, CBT breaks the harmful cycle of behaviors, feelings, and reactions. Moreover, the techniques that are taught by CBT help shift focus and change harmful behaviors, making individuals comfortable with the triggers of their health anxiety.
The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Health Anxiety
An article from 2019 emphasizes CBT as an effective treatment method for health anxiety. According to the article, CBT reduces not only health anxiety symptoms but also related symptoms such as depression or general anxiety. Significantly, about two-thirds of patients responded well to CBT, and half achieved remission (the symptoms of an illness disappearing) after treatment. Interestingly, the study also found that CBT treatment via the internet (through video calls) is just as effective as face-to-face treatment. This finding may be vital for health crises such as the COVID pandemic since face-to-face treatment is more difficult to carry out during lockdowns.
Furthermore, another 2019 study also stresses the effectiveness of CBT for health anxiety. As mentioned previously, this study also explains that CBT teaches patients to recognize and challenge their irrational fears about illnesses, helping them reduce checking behaviors, seeking reassurance, or avoiding medical settings. This approach enables CBT to reduce health anxiety symptoms, making it an effective treatment method. Although the study admits that CBT may not completely eliminate anxiety for everyone, it still remains one of the most efficient treatment methods for health anxiety.

How the Sintelly App can Help
The Sintelly app is a highly effective tool for managing health anxiety, offering a comprehensive suite of features designed to address both mental and emotional challenges.
With its CBT exercises, the app helps users confront and reframe negative thought patterns, while mindfulness techniques reduce stress and promote calmness. The app also provides real-time chatbot support to soothe anxiety in the moment, alongside psychodiagnostic tests that deliver personalized insights into users’ mental well-being, and progress tracking to monitor improvements. Together, these features empower users to break free from the cycle of health-related worries, regain control over their thoughts, and develop a more balanced, positive outlook on their well-being.
One of the most beneficial aspects of the Sintelly app is its CBT-based chatbot, which offers real-time support during sudden spikes in health anxiety. When users experience unexpected worry, the chatbot provides immediate reassurance through cognitive exercises, relaxation techniques, or simply as a supportive companion to help calm the mind. This feature makes it easier for individuals to regain focus and manage their anxiety in the moment, preventing it from spiraling.
Addressing both physical and emotional symptoms is crucial for those managing health anxiety, and the Sintelly app delivers with a range of mindfulness and relaxation tools. These include guided meditations, deep breathing exercises, and body scan techniques that help users shift their attention away from anxious thoughts and physical sensations. By practicing mindfulness, users learn to stay grounded in the present, reducing the tendency to dwell on imagined health concerns.

In addition to relaxation exercises, the Sintelly app offers CBT-based tools that guide users in identifying and challenging distorted thoughts. These exercises teach users how to differentiate between legitimate health concerns and anxiety-fueled fears, fostering a healthier relationship with their bodies and reducing the compulsive need for constant reassurance.
A standout feature of the app is its psychodiagnostic tests, which assess anxiety levels and other emotional states. After completing these tests, users receive tailored insights that provide a deeper understanding of their health anxiety and its influence on their well-being. The app also logs users’ moods and activities, offering a holistic view of how daily habits and routines affect anxiety levels.
Beyond offering insights from tests, the Sintelly app provides continuous feedback after users complete exercises, helping to reinforce positive habits and guide users toward improvement. By analyzing patterns in mood and behavior, the app helps users pinpoint specific triggers and gain a clearer understanding of how their thought patterns and routines contribute to anxiety. This allows for more targeted strategies to manage and reduce health anxiety effectively.