Comments on: Poor Readers Die Younger

By: Can you read this? « Side Effects May Vary

Can you read this? « Side Effects May Vary — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 02:12:05 +0000

[...] More details over at the blog “I Love To Cheat Diet“ [...]

By: Anita

Anita — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:56:08 +0000

Low literacy can be hazardous to your health in more ways than not being able to read a prescription bottle. What if you can’t read the instructions and warnings on household cleaners, foods, appliance instructions, and things like that?

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:43:28 +0000

With older patients, it might be their ability to understand the instructions, too. If they can’t read, their education levels may not be that high and they may not be able to understand the medical talk, but also sometimes older patients get confused no matter how much education they have. It might help if the doctors and nurses made sure the patients understand, but also a family member who can help (if that’s possible).

By: cyberalex

cyberalex — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 02:13:05 +0000

I might not be the greatest reader but at least I don’t smoke. That oughta give me a couple extra years.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:50:14 +0000

I don’t understand why these studies take so many years to be published cuz if we had the information sooner a lot more people could be helped.

By: Mags

Mags — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:19:14 +0000

I can read well, but I feel like I can’t get the information I need a lot of the times, too. I think Denise is on to something when she says doctor appointments are so quick these days that it’s hard to get all the information you need and sometimes I think of questions after I leave the doctor’s office and then it’s too late. It’s tough to understand medical terms sometimes, too, unless you work in medicine. Plain talk would help.

By: Cassie

Cassie — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:01:59 +0000

If they can’t read well, they probably make less money which can also lead to worse health care and early death. It’s a vicious cycle.

By: Denise R.

Denise R. — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:27:02 +0000

A lot of the problem with medical misunderstandings might just be how quick all the doctor appointments are today. If a doctor doesn’t have time or take the time to explain everything to a patient who can’t read well, they don’t have any other way to get the information.

By: Rita

Rita — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:53:06 +0000

Talk about an advertisement for reading is fundamental. I never knew people were dying because they couldn’t read but reading really is central to a lot of things in life so I guess we all shouldn’t be so surprised.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:22:00 +0000

Unbelievable! We need plain talk and higher literacy, that’s for sure.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:02:46 +0000

Even with a college degree, I can’t tell what doctors are saying most of the time.