Health Literacy

It’s been said that “the greatest wealth is health.” Most of us take it for granted until we experience health issues ourselves. Over time, we become aware of the priceless gift of good health and learn to appreciate it more. Many of us feel some level of regret, wondering what we could have done differently to prevent certain diseases or discomforts.

You are not alone. Limited health literacy is a national issue, which can result in preventable diseases, more visits to the hospital, and higher healthcare costs.

Although many health issues are outside of our control, some can be averted, such as stretching and warming up to prevent injury while working out. Health issues tend to follow the snowball effect, starting as seemingly insignificant discomforts and slowly building up into an avalanche if unmanaged.

The good news is that health literacy information is on the rise so that we can educate the younger generations on how to care for themselves, along with taking better care of ourselves.

What is Health Literacy?

The CDC defines personal health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”

The most recent study on this topic was conducted in 2003 by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), which assessed the health literacy of U.S. adults. The 4 literacy levels defined by the NAAL were below basic, basic, intermediate, and proficient. Basic/ below basic skills include knowing what is permissible to consume before a health exam based on instructions given. Intermediate skills include determining when to take a prescribed medicine in relation to eating time. Lastly, proficient skills include navigating the health care system. The results of the study were astounding. Only 12 percent of the participants had proficient skills, 53 percent had intermediate skills, and 36 percent had below basic/basic. In general, the health literacy level increased as the educational level increased. The solution is clear - parents need to educate and implement these skills at home.

Why is health literacy important?

According to the study's findings, there is a significant correlation between low health literacy and poor health, leading to an increase in preventable hospital visits. Another notable study conducted by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research focused on Oral Health. The study revealed concerning statistics, indicating that over 50 percent of children aged 5 to 9 have at least one cavity or filling, and this percentage rises to 78 percent among 17-year-olds. Cavities, which are preventable, were found to be the most prevalent chronic childhood disease. Cavities were found to be five times more common than asthma.

How can we teach health literacy skills at home for all ages?

Encourage good hygiene habits with your morning and evening routine. Make it a fun and essential part of your everyday routine to brush your teeth. Kids should start brushing their teeth as soon as their first tooth erupts. Brushing teeth twice a day for 2 minutes is vital. It is even more critical to brush your teeth before bed, as cavities tend to form overnight.

Flossing daily is important as well as brushing cannot reach in between the teeth. One great way to establish the flossing habit for kids is to use floss sticks that come in different colors. As kids reach adolescence, consider adding deodorant as part of their daily routine.

Have your kids schedule their doctor’s appointments. office to make an appointment to make them more engaged. You can guide them with how to call, what to mention, and the date/time to make the appointment. Adolescents can manage their insurance cards and learn the basics about their health insurance coverage. It would also be helpful for them to write down a list of questions they have for the doctor to have a sense of agency over their health. A general guideline is to visit the dentist 1-2 times a year (starting at age 1) and your primary doctor once a year.

Another important lesson to teach them is to get a second opinion when needed. If something doesn’t make sense, visit a different doctor for a new perspective. More information can be helpful when making an informed decision about your health.

Eat the rainbow and learn about nutrition. Challenge your family to eat the rainbow. This means that you aim to add foods of different colors and varieties into your meals and snacks so that you can guarantee a good variety of nutrients and vitamins. Knowing what each color group helps with can also make it more appealing to include these in

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Implement wellness daily habits for both mental and physical health. Physical health refers to your body's well-being, taking into account your absence of disease to fitness level. Practical ways to strengthen your physical health include washing hands, coughing into your elbow or tissue, getting exercise, spending time outdoors, and sleeping adequately. You can turn exercise into a family activity by walking together after dinner.

In addition to prioritizing physical health, mental health is essential. Carving out quiet time to pray, meditate or read, if even 5 minutes a day, can benefit your mental health. The key is minimizing moments of screen time when possible, such as before bed and during mealtimes.

As parents, we hope to raise future adults who can take good care of themselves and their families. The best way for kids to learn any skill is to have it modeled at home. Caring for yourself not only impacts you but those around you. If you are rested, joyful, and healthy, you will likely be the best

Our days consist of tiny decisions that significantly impact our lives. Arming our kids with selfconfidence and resourcefulness will help them gain autonomy over their health. Making the one seemingly small decision to teach your kids about health literacy will significantly benefit them in the long run.