Report Discusses Health Literacy

The National Women's Health Resource Center's (NWHRC) "Women & Health Literacy"explores how women can better understand their own health. "Low health literacy is a major obstaclefor millions of women as they struggle to take care of their health," said Amy Niles, presidentand chief executive officer of the NWHRC, which publishes the bimonthly National Women'sHealth Report. "Our goal for this publication is that its readers, both consumers and health careprofessionals, do a better job of communicating. Improving the health of women depends uponimproving health literacy."

The report also describes what health care professionals, as well as consumers, can do to beginto overcome the obstacles created by low health literacy. Health care professionals need to considerhow much their elderly patients comprehend, according to Ray Bullman, executive vice presidentof the National Council on Patient Information and Education, which worked with NWHRC. For a freecopy of "Women & Health Literacy," visit www.healthywomen.org, or call 877-986-9472.