Blood pressure intervention at Mid-South barbershops aims to help improve health for Black men

BARTLETT, Tenn. – A trip to the barber on Friday may have helped save some lives in Memphis and Shelby County.

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is partnering with local barbershops to offer free blood pressure screenings.

The goal is to help address health disparities among Black men.

Men typically see their barber more often than their doctor.

That’s why the owner of Kings Temple Barbershop in Bartlett is making his mission to meet his customers where they are.

“I just love cutting hair,” said Jurek Williamson, the barbershop owner. “You know, this is something I feel like I was born to do.”

Williamson said he’s been cutting hair since age 12.

He never knew his passion behind the chair would lead him to another purpose: to help his customers with their health.

“People are more comfortable in the barbershop sometimes, because, you know, especially for me … it’s kind of like a men’s hospital,” Williamson said.

According to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, heart disease is the leading cause of death in Shelby and DeSoto counties.

High blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

That’s why Methodist is partnering with medical students to bring free blood pressure checks to barbershops in the Mid-South.

“Heart disease disproportionately affects African-American males that typically don’t interact with the healthcare field,” said Marcus Ross, the director of community engagement at Methodist. “So, we felt like this program would be very influential.”

If a customer’s blood pressure is elevated, participating barbershop workers communicate the risks and what the customer can do to get it under control.

“They are given their numbers and also told to follow up with their primary care physician,” Ross said. “And if they don’t have one, they will be referred to one.”

As for Williamson, the blood pressure cuff now has a permanent spot in his shop.

He said he hopes it’ll encourage his customers to pay attention to their health and adopt healthier habits.

“I see it as being the beginning of something much bigger,” Williamson said. “5, 10 years from now, who knows? Every barbershop may require, you know, to have blood pressure.”

So far, there are six barbershops participating in the weekly blood pressure screenings.

Methodist said it hopes to expand the program to more local shops.