To continue with the heart theme brought to the table by yesterday’s post, I would like to give you some more heart information. Maryland barbershops can now take a course at the University of Maryland entitled “Hair, Heart and Health.” The class, meant to turn barbers into medical consultants, teaches basic techniques to measure blood pressure and evaluate lifestyle choices of their patients. Based on the information collected, the barbers then give advice on life-style changes all in the casual conversation of a haircut. The program is being targeted especially to the black community where, according to CNN, “80 percent of black men visit a barbershop at least once a month, staying almost three hours.”

This is a good idea. I think the scope of this project, targeting it to black communities, is ignoring the true potential a program such as this could have. If programs such as these were implemented across the country in barbershops, salons, and spas, I believe Americans would become healthier on average. This practice could easily be implemented into some of the chain hair-cutteries, and would at least alert people to their potential risk factors. Women especially could benefit from this service. Heart attacks in women can be particularly allusive, presenting themselves in any number of ways, and early detection could prove helpful. The only thing better would be if Star Bucks were to institute health checks with every drink over 15 grams of caffeine.