💙Heart First Academy

Every heart empowered with health literacy.

Our website: https://heartfirst.academy/

Nearly 36 percent of adults in the U.S. have low health literacy.

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is like having a GPS for your health journey—it's the ability to understand, navigate, and make smart choices about your well-being. Just as a GPS helps you find your way, health literacy equips you with the skills to understand health information, communicate with healthcare providers, and take charge of your health confidently. It's about having the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions that keep you on the right path toward a healthier life.

How does poor health literacy impact community health?

Limited Understanding of Health Information:

Individuals with low health literacy might struggle to comprehend health-related information, including instructions from healthcare providers, medication labels, preventive care guidelines, or public health advisories. This can lead to misunderstandings, errors in self-care, or non-compliance with medical recommendations.

Barriers to Accessing Healthcare Services:

Low health literacy can serve as a barrier to accessing healthcare services. Individuals may have difficulty navigating healthcare systems, understanding insurance policies, or completing necessary paperwork, leading to delays in seeking care or preventive services.

Poor Health Decision-Making:

Limited health literacy can hinder individuals' ability to make informed health decisions. They might have difficulties in assessing risks, understanding treatment options, or evaluating the credibility of health information, leading to decisions that might not align with their best interests.

Increased Health Disparities:

Communities with lower health literacy rates often face higher rates of chronic diseases, lower utilization of preventive services, and increased hospitalizations. This contributes to widening health disparities between socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and others within the community.

Reduced Participation in Public Health Initiatives:

Individuals with low health literacy might be less engaged in public health initiatives, disease prevention programs, or health screenings. This can impact community-wide efforts to prevent or manage diseases.

Higher Healthcare Costs:

Lack of health literacy can lead to increased healthcare costs due to preventable medical errors, avoidable hospitalizations, and non-adherence to treatment plans. This places a financial burden on both individuals and the healthcare system.

How does Heart First promote health literacy?

We aim to promote health literacy in 3 ways:

1. Motivate individuals everywhere to promote evidence based health and wellness resources with rewards.

2. Spread awareness of the issue with unique merchandise

3. Create a platform that uses blockchain based rewards to facilitate education and HEP compliance in health care settings.

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