Queen Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles says he's 'convinced he's dying' in health update
Tom Parker Bowles has candidly discussed his ongoing battle with health anxiety, opening up about his personal struggles during an appearance on Gabby Logan's Mid Point podcast.
The author and food critic confessed that he's beset by persistent fears regarding his well-being, confiding a sense of certainty about facing serious illness.
As he opened up to the respected presenter, he commented on his issues with hypochondria: "I'm a total hypochondriac, I'm always convinced that I'm dying of something, like a headache is always going to be brain cancer, a cough is always going to be lung (cancer)."
He conveyed his frequent trips to the doctor, emphasizing his often dramatic concerns with: "I do go to my doctor, who is a magnificent man, rather a lot, saying 'this is it doc, this is the big one.'"
(Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
According to the NHS, hypochondria or health anxiety is described as: "When you spend so much time worrying you're ill, or going to get ill, that it starts to take over your life. It's related to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)."
It's estimated that between five to 10% of the UK population experience this condition.
According to their website, there are several signs that could indicate if someone has health anxiety, including; "constantly worry about your health, frequently check your body for signs of illness, such as lumps, tingling or pain, are always asking people for reassurance that you're not ill, worry that a doctor or medical tests may have missed something and obsessively look at health information on the internet or in the media."
(Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
Despite concerns over common ailments like headaches and coughs potentially being more serious, Tom has previously opened up about instigating a lifestyle change due to a health scare.
In a conversation with Vogue magazine last year, he conveyed his determination to tackle his weight, particularly with his 50th birthday on the horizon, declaring: "I was like: 'Right, I'm getting too fat.'"
Tom's career spans across some of the country's most prestigious publications, having penned pieces for Tatler, Esquire, Conde Nast, Country Life and Harper's Bazaar.
Beyond his literary achievements, Tom's television presence is noteworthy; known for his role on Gordon Ramsay's show The F Word and the BBC's MasterChef, where he frequently critiques contestants' culinary creations.
However, Tom has recently branched out into authoring his own cookery books.
His latest release, Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III, sees him sharing 100 recipes spanning two centuries of Royals.
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