LONDON SOUTH Bank University (LSBU) has announced a new project to train barbers in measuring and giving advice about blood pressure to their customers.
The initiative is the first of its kind in the UK. Eight barbershops based in Croydon have already undergone training to provide on-the-spot blood pressure checks and provide health information.
The London barbershop blood pressure testing project takes inspiration from a successful US health study in Los Angeles barbershops in 2018 which resulted in 68% of those with high blood pressure ending the study with healthy blood pressure levels.
In the UK, around 30% of men have high blood pressure and around half of them are not diagnosed or receiving treatment.
High blood pressure remains the third biggest cause of disease throughout the country, which can lead to kidney disease, vascular dementia and mobility problems – costing the NHS £2billion every year.
The London barbershop project will target black and Asian men who are more likely to have high blood pressure and less likely to be diagnosed than the general population.
Nicola Thomas, LSBU Professor of Kidney Care and barbershop project lead said: “For the first time in the UK, barbers will offer testing to their customers to find out if they have high blood pressure and then give advice about how to reduce it.
“Sadly, millions of adults in the UK have high blood pressure and half are undiagnosed which can lead to strokes or heart attacks.
“Our Croydon barbershop project aims to understand if we can run a similar project to the one in Los Angeles. It is the trusting relationship that customers have with their barbers that is so important – we need to take healthcare out into the community.”
The project is being run in partnership with two Croydon-based organisations, called Croydon BME Forum and Off The Record.
Some of the barbershops providing the service across London will be Finishing Touches in Mitcham, Yian the Barber in South Norwood and Cutter Hair Doctor based in South Norwood.
Hugh Benain from Finishing Touches barbershop, said: “It’s great to be taking part in this important project to tackle high blood pressure in the community. We’ll be offering our customers on-the-spot blood pressure tests and health information for them to take away.
“High blood pressure is a silent killer and providing tests and information from our barbershop could save lives.”
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