Quiz: Are you a hypochondriac?

Far from being a hypochondriac, you hardly ever worry about your health. And while a positive attitude is among the best ways of dealing with pesky niggles, such as occasional colds and headaches, you still need to stay 'in touch' with your body and be aware of changes and irregularities. As you grow older, your risk of serious illness - such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes - becomes far greater. So it's important to get symptoms checked out quickly, if only to ensure you can go on enjoying life for as long as possible. 'Never ignore symptoms,' warns Harley Street therapist Dominic Knight. 'Early diagnosis is always better - just as prevention is better than cure. It's vital to stay well informed, without becoming obsessive.' Read your no-panic health guide for your 30s through to your 60s No need to panic: what symptoms may mean Stay healthy as you get older
How healthy is your diet? Take the quiz

Well done - it seems you know the importance of keeping tabs on your health and going for regular check-ups, but you don't allow medical matters to bother you unnecessarily. Of course, aside from health checks, it's also important to stay fit and fabulous with a balanced diet and regular exercise regime. 'Keeping yourself in shape not only ensures your weight and blood pressure stay in check, but it also helps steer the mind away from anxiety,' says personal trainer AJ Perrera from Fitness First. 'By engaging in exercise, you concentrate on the task in hand, rather than worrying.' Read your no-panic health guide for your 30s through to your 60s No need to panic: what symptoms may mean Stay healthy as you get older
How healthy is your diet? Take the quiz

Yes, your chances of becoming ill do increase with age, but if you keep tabs on your health and get any irregularities checked out as soon as possible, you can get on with enjoying your life the rest of the time. 'Once you've been checked and know everything is OK, it's important to get on with life normally,' says Harley Street therapist Dominic Knight. 'If you're still ruminating on the fantasy of being ill, you need to break that unhealthy thought. Otherwise, the stress really will make you sick. Remember, the world's healthiest people focus on health; the sickest people focus on illness. 'So stop thinking about past negative memories or hallucinations of some future event gone wrong. Create the story of the way you want your life and health to truly be. When you constantly transmit thoughts of happiness and good health, you'll see evidence of it all around you and your mind will only look for the positive in each scenario.' Read your no-panic health guide for your 30s through to your 60s No need to panic: what symptoms may mean Stay healthy as you get older
How healthy is your diet? Take the quiz