Feel Anxious About Your Health? Read This First
By: Brian Hoeflinger, MD
August 15, 2025 | #57
Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
Disclaimer: Opinions are my own. Not medical advice.
Medical Trivia of the Week
Which part of the brain is most associated with the experience of fear and anxiety? (the correct answer is at the end of this email)
- A) Hippocampus
- B) Amygdala
- C) Cerebellum
- D) Thalamus
Why Health Anxiety Is So Common
We don’t talk enough about how stressful it is to care about your health.
You can be perfectly healthy and still feel a pit in your stomach before a doctor’s visit. You can feel fine and still hold your breath while waiting for results. The fear isn’t always rational. But it’s real.
As a neurosurgeon, I’ve watched countless people go through this: anxiety in the exam room, overthinking every word in a report, spiraling over “what ifs” while waiting for a phone call. Sometimes, the scariest part of taking charge of your health is simply not knowing.
And if you’ve ever experienced that kind of waiting, the kind that makes you feel like you’re frozen in time, you’re not alone.
Why Uncertainty Triggers So Much Fear
Your brain is hardwired to crave certainty. It’s how we survive. When something unknown is on the horizon, especially when it has to do with your health, your nervous system goes on high alert.
We imagine the worst-case scenario. We Google symptoms. We obsess over things we can’t control. And it’s all in an effort to prepare ourselves… just in case.
But here’s the problem: your brain doesn’t know the difference between a true threat and a perceived one. That means even the idea of a scary diagnosis can activate the same stress response as the diagnosis itself.
So that anxiety you feel while waiting on test results? That’s not weakness. That’s your brain doing what it was designed to do.
The Hidden Toll of Health Anxiety
We often think of anxiety as something that exists only in the mind, but it can affect the body, too. Chronic stress from health-related worry can lead to:
- Trouble sleeping
- Digestive issues
- Fatigue
- Muscle tension
- Increased blood pressure
Ironically, the more you worry about your health, the more your health can suffer. It becomes a cycle, and many people get stuck in it for years.
Some people even avoid testing or follow-ups entirely, not because they don’t care, but because they care too much. The fear of what might be found feels too overwhelming to confront.
Knowledge Is Power Yet It Is Also a Process
Facing the unknown takes courage. So does learning about your body in a deeper way.
Whether it’s a cholesterol panel, an MRI, a biopsy, genetic testing, or a more in-depth look at your long-term risk for disease, knowledge can feel heavy. But it’s also the gateway to peace of mind.
There’s something deeply empowering about understanding what’s going on beneath the surface, even if it’s not what you hoped to hear. Because once you know, you can act. And that action is what breaks the cycle of anxiety.
I’ve seen patients walk out of my office after receiving life-changing news with less fear than they had walking in. Why? Because clarity replaces ambiguity. And a plan replaces panic.
How to Manage the Fear Around Health Testing
If you’re someone who struggles with health anxiety, or even just dreads medical appointments, here are a few reminders that might help:
- Anticipatory anxiety is often worse than reality. The dread you feel before a test or result is often more intense than what actually happens. Don’t let your brain write stories that haven’t happened yet.
- Avoid avoidance. Putting off testing or ignoring symptoms doesn’t protect you, it prolongs uncertainty. Information allows you to take action and regain control.
- Prepare for both outcomes. Hope for the best, plan for what you’ll do if it is not. Knowing your next step, no matter the result, helps reduce fear.
- Bring someone with you. Support makes a difference. Whether it’s a partner, friend, or family member, don’t be afraid to lean on others.
- Remind yourself: you’re not alone. Millions of people every day face health concerns and anxiety around it. You are not weak for feeling anxious. You are human.
In Partnership with Nucleus Genomics
Understanding your DNA is one of the most powerful long-term steps you can take for your health. It allows you to move from uncertainty to clarity, and from reactive care to proactive action.
Still, it is normal to feel uneasy about genetic testing. What if it reveals something serious? What if there’s nothing you can do about it? What if it changes how you see yourself?
These questions are valid. But time and again, once people have answers, fear gives way to a plan. Anxiety becomes direction. Knowledge becomes peace of mind.
That’s why I am proudly partnered with Nucleus Genomics. Their clinical-grade genetic test offers a comprehensive look at your risk for over 900 conditions, including cancers, heart disease, mental health, and more. They also offer partner carrier screening to help identify shared genetic risks in family planning.
With this information, you and your doctor can create a personalized prevention strategy focused on early detection, risk management, and long-term health. Nucleus sequences significantly more of your genome than traditional consumer tests and ensures your data is private, secure, and always under your control.
Click below to learn more!
Use code "HOEFLINGER" for $100 OFF
My Final Thoughts
The truth is, the human body is astonishing. It wants to heal. It wants to adapt. And the more we learn about it, the better we can care for it.
Don’t let fear stop you from learning what could save your life, or at least give you peace of mind.
Caring about your health isn’t always easy. But it’s always worth it.
You’re not broken for being anxious. You’re brave for wanting to know.
Get $100 OFF with code: HOEFLINGER
Impactful Quote of the Week
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
All my best,
Brian Hoeflinger
P.S. - if you enjoyed this newsletter, you may enjoy my book that details my life as neurosurgeon and the loss of my oldest son, Brian (see below a synopsis).
My Book
Life and Death . . . Two words with such opposite meaning and which inflict such contradictory emotions and yet are so closely intertwined in our lives. As parents, we bring meaning and life into this world through our children. Our lives become defined as a result. We learn the joy, hardship, and responsibility of shaping an innocent life. But a day will come when that life will be taken. For some, death will come too soon. This is the story of my son, Brian Nicholas Hoeflinger, who died unexpectedly at age 18.
https://doctorhoeflinger.com/products/the-night-he-died-the-harsh-reality-of-teenage-drinking
Interested in Sponsoring the Newsletter?
Please reply with any questions you may have or future topics that you want me to write about.
If you enjoyed this newsletter or previous editions, please share it with a friend. You can use this link: https://pages.doctorhoeflinger.com/posts
Medical Trivia Answer:
The correct answer is B) Amygdala
