hipocondriaco

hypochondriac

The Spanish word 'hipocondriaco' translates to 'hypochondriac' in English. A hypochondriac is a person who is excessively worried about their health and often believes they are sick, even when there are no medical reasons to support this belief. They have mental distress related to fear of having serious illness, which often persists despite medical reassurance. This fear or belief might interfere with their daily life. The word 'hipocondriaco' originates from the Greek word 'hypokondrios', which means 'under the cartilage (of the sternum)', in reference to the ancient belief that this area was the seat of melancholy and anxiety.