News Releases

Media Center | News Releases | Contact Info | Mission | Fact Sheet | Leadership Bios | Images | Annual Reports | Legislation & Mandates | Blue Sites & Industry Links | Affiliates | History & Timeline

-- Press Kit -- News Release Participating Shops Fact Sheet - Baltimore Program Fact Sheet - Washington DC Program

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in African-Americans. African-Americans also have a higher prevalence of CHD risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles. This racial gap continues to persist even though rates of CHD mortality are decreasing nationwide. This may be due to differences in lifestyle behaviors and access to care, which may be related to socioeconomic status.

The Hair, Heart and Health program embraces the notion that health education at the community level is an effective intervention strategy for preventable diseases like CHD, stroke and kidney disease. Barbershops and hair salons have traditionally been places of neighborhood socialization and can become a focal point for community health education and disseminating information, similar to the role the churches have played for the past 25 years.

Hair, Heart & Health in Washington, D.C.

• Hair, Heart & Health (HHH) is a joint effort of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) and MedStar Research Institute. CareFirst is funding the program with a grant of nearly $200,000 for the first year (2007-2008). The effort may be extended if HHH shows positive impacts for the community.
  
  
  
• MedStar Research will select 12 shops in Washington, D.C. to participate in the program (five shops have been recruited to date). The program is aimed at reaching African-American male and female adults, 18 years and older. The targeted areas for the program have high African-American populations.
  
  
• MedStar Research contacts and recruits shops, and trains hair care professionals to participate in the program. Barbers and hair stylists are trained through instruction to:
  
  
  • Use necessary equipment to screen for high blood pressure
  • Take height and weight measurements for use in calculating Body Mass Index (BMI) to screen for obesity
  • Provide health counseling and medical referrals to health care providers or designated health clinics as appropriate based on screening results
    
    
• 9 stylists have been trained to date.
  
  
• Participants will receive appropriate health educational materials for CHD risk factor reduction and lifestyle modifications
  
  
• Health education videos will be shown in the shops on a rotating basis and guest speakers and MedStar Research staff will be on hand at designated times to enhance the program.

E-mail Notifications:

• Sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, or call 1-800-914-6397.
• To unsubscribe from our mailing list, click here.