Health related anxiety

[Jacqueline92]

My boyfriend has a hernia in the top of his stomach that causes him some pain from time to time. recently, a coworker had to take medical leave due to a heart condition and has now returned to work. since then, my boyfriend has experienced heightened anxiety about the pains his hernia causes,which makes him think he has a heart condition. It has been causing stress on our relationship because he spends many an evening bed ridden, has had to leave work early, is distancing himself from me. I don't know how to console his worries, and he refuses to see a doctor. Is it possible that he has developed a slight case of hypochondria? He already has an anxiety disorder and has told me before that all of his anxiety has always been health related. I don't know what to do. Please help!