Health Watch is a public service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, we're talking about the Dallas Heart Study, in which doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center have looked at thousands of people in an effort to find ways to help prevent heart disease. One thing they have learned is that African American men have the highest rate of uncontrolled high blood pressure, which is a major heart risk factor. Diagnosing these men and treating their high blood pressure could save many lives.

The doctors have found that in the African American community, the neighborhood barbershop is a popular gathering place. So, they trained local barbers to take blood pressure readings using automated devices. Barbers can refer men who have high blood pressure to doctors for treatment. Dr. Ron Victor, chief of hypertension at UT Southwestern, says the goal is to make blood pressure measurement and education a standard part of service at the barbershop.

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October 2006

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