“When’s the best time to start something new?” The answer varies depending on the topic at hand, but when it comes to your health, there’s no better day than today to start getting educated. But besides attending annual doctor’s appointments and getting a flu shot every fall, what else can you do to prioritize your overall well-being?
Try strengthening your health literacy! Through thoughtful research, access to useful information and mindful self-advocacy, you may discover many of the answers to your health-related questions.
What does being “health literate” even mean?
Fifty years after the term was first coined—and after many different iterations—professionals have settled upon two solid definitions: personal and organizational health literacy. The former is described as an individual’s ability to seek out and understand medical information, while the latter is based on how health institutions make that same information accessible and equitable to people of different ages, abilities and preferred languages.
Thus, health literacy is a two-sided concept. While organizations like hospitals and clinics must keep their side of the deal due to regulations and policies, you are never required to learn the inner workings of the medical world and its seemingly never-ending jargon. This is why health literacy is so important; by neglecting it, a simple diagnosis can feel like a medical labyrinth to navigate.
How does it impact my future?
Much like a well-oiled machine, keeping up on your body’s maintenance should keep it running longer—and hopefully in better shape, too. Low health literacy can raise major roadblocks on the highway of life, such as feeling less confident reporting your symptoms, overwhelmed when dealing with a chronic illness and confused when asked to recall family medical history. It could even cause you to make serious errors when taking your medications.
On the flipside, bettering your health knowledge has outstanding perks: it can decrease unneeded emergency room (ER) visits, improve your satisfaction with your doctor and medical team, and even improve overall health outcomes.
So, where to begin on becoming more health savvy?
Try these tips:
- Ask questions. Consult your doctor—it’s what they’re there for! What’s scary to you may be standard to them. Don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion when you’re feeling uncertain or uncomfortable.
- Utilize online patient portals. These are incredibly useful to dig into and truly understand your conditions or care plan—and you can read through them at your own pace, and whenever you please. Have a question about your care? Some portals allow for encrypted messaging right to your medical provider.
- Research (with caution). Misinformation is common on the internet. While Google and WebMD can be helpful, they can also contain sensationalized information. Your doctor’s word should take precedence.
- Plan for your future. Setting up an advance directive or discussing future wishes with your family might feel awkward, but it allows you to make informed health decisions in the case of a hindering injury or crisis.
October is Celebrated as Health Literacy Month. In a society where debates and disputes over truth and opinions are widespread, it’s important to make decisions based on the facts. Thankfully, today’s a perfect day to start the learning journey!
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