Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Huntington's Disease

Home » Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Huntington's Disease » Patient Information about Huntington s Disease

Huntington's disease (HD), or Huntington's chorea, is a progressive, incurable, genetic (inherited) disease that results in the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington's disease symptoms include uncontrolled movements, personality changes, memory loss, and impaired cognitive functioning, usually beginning in middle age.

Download/Print this page (PDF)

Healthy lifestyle choices, such as getting enough sleep, regular exercise, and eating a well-balanced diet, can help people with HD feel better mentally and physically, and treatment involves medications to manage symptoms. Ongoing Huntington's research continues to shed light on how the disease progresses and may lead to additional treatment options in the future.

Here are some questions to ask your doctor (e.g., neurologist) about Huntington's disease. Print this page, check off the questions you would like answered, and take it with you to your doctor appointment. The more information you have about your condition, the easier it will be to make important decisions about your medical care.

• What is Huntington's disease?
• What are Huntington's disease causes?
• What other conditions can cause symptoms similar to Huntington's disease?
• How will you determine if I have Huntington's?
• What kinds of examinations and diagnostic tests will be performed?
• What do these exams and tests involve?
• What are the risks and benefits associated with these tests?
• How should I prepare for these exams and tests?
• Will I need special help at home following the tests? How soon after the tests will I be able to return to my normal activities?
  Restrictions:
• Should I call for my test results or will someone contact me?
  Date to call: Telephone number to call:
• Who will discuss the results with me?
• Will other members of my family be tested? Why or why not?
• How will Huntington's disease affect my daily life?
• How will my condition be monitored? Will I need to have diagnostic tests on a regular basis from now on?
• Why did HD symptoms appear at this time in my life?

• What Huntington's disease treatments are available?
• What type(s) of HD treatment do you recommend?
• Why do you recommend this treatment?
• What are the benefits, risks, and side effects of this treatment?
• How quickly do you suspect my condition to progress?
• What other symptoms might I experience?


Advertising Disclaimer
• How might my lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, affect progression of the disease?
• Is it possible to slow or stop Huntington's disease from progressing? If so, what might this involve and how can I accomplish this?
• Do you recommend medication(s) to manage my HD symptoms? Why or why not?
• What are the benefits, risks, and side effects of these medications?
• What should I do if I experience serious side effects?
  Telephone number to call:
• What if I forget to take a dose of my medication?
• Will I need to take these medications for the rest of my life?
• Might I need to see a specialist? If so, what kind of specialist(s)?
  Specialist(s): Telephone number(s) to call:
• What kind of additional therapies will I need? Where can I go for these services?
  Practice/Therapist(s): Telephone number(s) to call:

• What can I expect as a caregiver of someone with Huntington's disease?
• What symptoms indicate that I should call the doctor?
• What medications will I need to give and how often will I need to give them?
• What warning signs should I look for regarding medication side effects?
• What should I do if these warning signs occur?
  Telephone number to call:
• What signs indicate that the prescribed medications are helping?
• What kinds of resources are available for caregivers?
• Do you recommend that I join a caregiver support group?
• What signs indicate that it might be time for my loved one to be placed in a long-term care facility?
• What should I look for in a long-term care facility?
• How can I get more information about long-term care, including how to pay for it?

© 1998-2010 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Huntington's Disease Resources

	Join Our Huntington's Disease Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar.