Overview

• Nadia Sawalha said she experiences up to 35 intrusive health fears daily, describing them as “horrendous” and “exhausting.”
• She listed specific worries ranging from dementia, breast and bowel cancers to Weil’s disease, constantly checking moles and fearing rare infections.
• The panellist noted that health-awareness campaigns and social media posts often trigger her obsessive checking and intrusive thoughts.
• Sawalha revealed she avoids discussing her anxiety with her children because her fears upset them and strain family interactions.
• NHS guidance cited in reports links health anxiety to obsessive-compulsive disorder and recommends treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy and, where needed, medication.