Freakonomics M D Are Barbershops the Cutting Edge of Healthcare Delivery Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 01 October 2021 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Freakonomics M D Are Barbershops the Cutting Edge of Healthcare Delivery A Cedars-Sinai study found that stationing pharmacists at Black barbershops can help control high blood pressure among patrons. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. Freakonomics M.D. host Bapu Jena recently spoke with Cedars-Sinai Clinical Pharmacist C. Adair Blyler, PharmD, discussing how Black barbershops can help improve the health of their customers by screening them for high blood pressure and other chronic conditions. Uncontrolled high blood pressure, also called hypertension, is considered a silent killer because it doesn't show many obvious symptoms. Getting your blood pressure measured by a physician is the best way to know you have it. Taking action-eating healthfully, exercising and taking blood pressure medication-is important, Blyler said, because hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. Hypertension occurs more frequently among Black men than white men. Black men are also less likely to seek preventive care from medical providers. Blyler was part of the team led by the late Cedars-Sinai cardiologist Ronald G. Victor, MD, that launched a groundbreaking study examining whether stationing pharmacists at Black barbershops could help control high blood pressure among patrons. Barbershops proved to be a safe space where trusted barbers could convince their Black customers to get a screening with pharmacists like Blyler who were embedded in the shops. "I think my being in the shop day in and day out really allowed me to establish a rapport with folks, and with that came trust," Blyler told Jena. Blyler and her fellow pharmacists screened and treated customers for hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, counseled them on lifestyle changes, and prescribed medication when needed. These efforts made a real difference, Blyler said. She recounted a situation with a barber, whom she diagnosed with hypertension and persuaded to accept treatment. "I went from putting him on three medications to down to just one medication because he had lost 30, 40 pounds, and he had stopped smoking," Blyler told Jena. Click here to listen to the complete interview from Freakonomics, M.D. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release Freakonomics M D Are Barbershops the Cutting Edge of Healthcare Delivery Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home