An Unconventional Approach To Controlling High Blood Pressure In African American Men
Bringing in a pharmacist to visit barber shops, as well as getting a helpful nudge from the barber himself, has proven to help lower blood pressure.
Los Angeles Times:
Take A Little Off The Top: How Visits To The Barbershop Helped Reduce Blood Pressure In African American Men
The study found that when a group of African American men with untreated high blood pressure got a screening and a friendly nudge from their barber, as well as a visit to the shop from a pharmacist, close to two-thirds of the men brought their blood pressure into a healthy range. (Healy, 3/12)
California Healthline:
Black Men’s Blood Pressure Is Cut Along With Their Hair
“We’re a high statistic for … hypertension and everything, and it’s something we let go by,” Thomas said as he worked at the shop, A New You, on Friday. “Our customers, they’ll talk to us before they talk to anybody else.” And that can be good for their health. Thomas, who himself has high blood pressure, helped lead a group of customers as part of a study published Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine showing that providing information and inviting a pharmacist onsite can go a long way toward helping black men reduce their blood pressure. (Abram, 3/12)