A medical diagnosis (abbreviated Dx, or Ds) means naming the cause of a person’s symptoms. Diagnoses can cover a wide range of medical issues, from acute illnesses like infections to chronic health conditions such as diabetes or cancer.
Tips & Links
A diagnosis can assist health care professionals in understanding and categorizing a specific health problem you may be experiencing. From the diagnosis, they can then develop a treatment plan.
Learn More
- Know that some health conditions are not easy to diagnose, and some people live with symptoms and problems that are never diagnosed or labelled. Many autoimmune diseases do not have a label or cause.
- A diagnosis is made by reviewing a person’s symptoms, medical history, physical examinations, and may require medical tests or diagnostic procedures.
- From the diagnosis, health care professionals can develop a treatment plan that may include medications, tests, treatment options, lifestyle changes, and/or surgery.
- Learn about coping with a new diagnosis and life altering change from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Things You Can Do
- Ask for clear explanations about your condition or diagnosis and prognosis. Ask how this diagnosis could impact your life, including its effects on your physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being, and the prognosis or expected outcome of this condition.
- Learn what treatment options are available to you, such as medications, therapies, lifestyle changes, and/or surgery.
- Use research-based websites, such as government health portals or medical organizations, to learn more about your diagnosis and health conditions.
- Ask for a second opinion, if needed, to confirm your prognosis and explore additional options or treatments.
- Review treatment options being recommended to you by your physician or specialist by asking questions like those suggested by Healthlink BC.
- Track your symptoms, so you can discuss changes and treatment options with your physician or specialist.
- Learn how to participate in your health care visits and record your health information.
- Know about your patient rights including informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and the right to refuse or accept care.
Find Support
- Reach out to 811 to ask for general health information, direction on how to monitor your symptoms, or help finding health care in your community, if needed. Navigation services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Healthlink BC.
- Consider naming a health advocate who can help navigate the health care system and provide guidance.
- Connect with others facing similar conditions to learn from their experiences and coping strategies.
- Explore condition-specific support groups listed by Family Caregivers of BC.
- Seek out non-profit or condition-specific groups for information and support such as Alzheimer Society of BC,BC Cancer, BC Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis Canada, and many more.
- Consider seeking counselling from private (fee for service) or subsidized programs to help you explore your feelings and emotions. For a list of professionals visit Counselling BC.
Mywell Health helps you learn about and organize your health information in one place. Add your health diagnosis and health conditions information into your Health Profile fillable PDF tool and save all print and digital files in My Health Information.
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Categories: My Health Information, Senior
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