Be Health Literate for Your Own Good

October recognizes Health Literacy Month, which Helen Osborne, M.Ed, founded in 1999. According to the licensed occupational therapist and best-selling author, the theme for Health Literacy Month is “Be a Health Literacy Hero.”

What is Health Literacy?

During this annual and month-long event, individuals and organizations promote the significance of comprehensible health information. Health Literacy Month raises awareness about the high importance of breaking down the barriers of understanding. Doctors and leading health experts note that there is a massive gap between the way certain professionals communicate health care issues, and the ability of an average person to understand them.

What are the Downsides of Health Illiteracy?

Did you know most people have limited health literacy? The Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported that 90 million people — nearly half the United States’ adult population — lack the health literacy skills needed to understand and follow health information and health system demands.

Health illiteracy is prevalent beyond individuals with limited reading and writing skills, which puts at risk the health and healing of many. For example, if a person has trouble understanding health literacy, he or she has a higher chance of the following:

• Skip necessary medical tests and examinations.
• Disregard the need for medication and treatment.
• Fail to follow a physician’s instructions or prescriptions.
• Hesitate to visit the emergency room.
• Struggle to live or cope with their health problems.
• Succumb or die, especially from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Therefore, understanding health literacy is quintessential for everyone.

How to Become Health Literate

You can develop or improve your own health literacy through:

Improve the way you communicate with medical professionals. For instance, make a list of your symptoms before your check-up, write down a list of questions and concerns, and take down notes when your doctor is explaining something to you.
Do not feel ashamed about calling your doctor for any questions you might have after leaving his or her office.
Attend health education programs at a community center, library, or anywhere you can find them in your city.

The responsibility does not lie solely on the health consumer. For medical professionals, observe Health Literacy Month beginning October and beyond by:

• Simplify your written materials.
• Incorporate images and videos to teach your patients.
• Get your message across by avoiding unfamiliar, complicated, and technical terms when conversing with patients.

Fortunately, a growing number of healthcare facilities are striving to improve how they communicate with patients, ensuring everything is clear before allowing the patient to leave. According to a 2012 study, “If public and private organizations make it a priority to become health literate, the nation’s health literacy can be advanced to the point at which it will play a major role in improving health care and health for all Americans.”

A Final Word

At some point in our lives (and the lives of our loved ones), we will need the ability to find, understand, and use health information and services. Health literacy can help us prevent chronic conditions, better manage health problems and unexpected situations that may occur, and overall protect our well-being.