Chop it Up Barbershop joins Paul Gray’s Barber Lounge, Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization to fight hypertension in the African American community
SEATTLE — In its third year, Regence has expanded the Healthy Edge and Free Fades blood pressure screening day to three Chop It Up Barbershop locations throughout the Puget Sound area. Paul Gray’s Barber Lounge in Madrona, which piloted the event, will continue to participate along with nurses from the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization. Free blood pressure screenings will be available on Saturday, September 15 at Paul Gray’s Barber Lounge and Chop It Up Barbershop locations in Lynnwood, Tukwila and Woodinville.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), About 72 million people nationwide have high blood pressure, or hypertension. That’s about 1 in 3 adults. African Americans are at particularly high risk of developing high blood pressure. Genes seem to play some role, but so do diet and other lifestyle factors. The NIH published a study in 2011 that found that barber shop-based outreach resulted in improved blood pressure control among participants.
“Regence is committed to helping improve the health of our communities, and to reducing health care disparities,” said Eric Pettigrew, Regence director of community and business development. “Our ongoing partnership with Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization has enabled us to reach almost 500 people in the first two years of the Health Edge program, and we look forward to helping many more as the program expands this year.”
Free blood pressure screenings will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 15, 2012 at the following locations:
Paul Gray’s Barber Lounge — 1123 34th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122; 206.860.0497
Chop It Up Barbershop:
Lynnwood — 18910 28th Ave. W., Suite 102-A, Lynnwood, WA 98036; 425.778.7080
Tukwila — Parkway Square Shopping Center; 16874 Southcenter Pkwy., Tukwila, WA 98188; 206.575.6274
Woodinville — 17409 139th Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA 98072; 425.489.9709
The event is open to everyone. Participants who have their blood pressure screened will also receive a free haircut (up to a $20 value), either on site the day of the screening or through a voucher for a haircut at a future date through Dec. 15, 2012, depending on the location.
About Regence BlueShield
Regence BlueShield is a leading health plan in Washington with nearly one million members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence BlueShield is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and is affiliated with Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. Together, the companies serve more than two million members in the Northwest/Intermountain Region. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities, and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.twitter.com/RegenceWA.