“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NASV)

According to a recent study, worrying about getting a serious illness can have the same consequences as having one, the New York Post reports.

A Swedish study, involving over 45,000 people, found that severe hypochondriacs who are constantly worrying about their health tend to die earlier than those who don’t.

The study noted that many of us tend to have a milder hypochondriac streak, but some take it to an extreme.

Referred to as hypochondriasis, it involves those who are in a constant state of fear about their health.

This is demonstrated by extremes such as going to the doctor about every ailment, real or imagined, constantly changing doctors, or refusing to see a doctor at all.

The researchers found that those suffering from this condition have higher rates of death, both from natural and unnatural causes.

The difference is noticeable as the researchers found that the mean age for dying for severe hypochondriacs was 70 compared to 75 for those without the condition.

The researchers also used a different calculation to show the difference. Those with severe rates of worry died at a rate of 8.5 per 1,000 person-years, compared to only 5.5 for non-chronic worriers.

The researcher suggested that the emotional stress caused by this condition could certainly be a causative factor, as the worry group had higher rates of death from suicide and heart conditions. They also had higher rates of death due to respiratory issues.