diff --git a/docs/source/markdown/options/health-timeout.md b/docs/source/markdown/options/health-timeout.md
index 0540a48db3..98d807ce5c 100644
--- a/docs/source/markdown/options/health-timeout.md
+++ b/docs/source/markdown/options/health-timeout.md
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@
 
 The maximum time allowed to complete the healthcheck before an interval is considered failed. Like start-period, the
 value can be expressed in a time format such as **1m22s**. The default value is **30s**.
+
+Note: A timeout marks the healthcheck as failed but does not terminate the running process.
+This ensures that a slow but eventually successful healthcheck does not disrupt the container
+but is still accounted for in the health status.