Free screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels will be available today at barbershops and beauty salons in Pulaski, Clark and Phillips counties as part of the third annual Arkansas Minority Barber & Beauty Shop Health Initiative, the Arkansas Health Department said in a news release.
Body mass index assessments, information on how to quit using tobacco, and heart and stroke education also will be available at participating locations at no cost to participants, who will be provided a free lunch in exchange for receiving the health check.
The mission of the initiative is to use convenient locations to help increase public awareness about heart disease and stroke in the state's black and Hispanic populations, the department said.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Arkansas, and stroke is the fourth-leading cause. Blacks are more frequently affected by heart disease and stroke than other populations, which contributes to lower life expectancy, according to the department.
"Nearly half of all adults in the state have uncontrolled high blood pressure, putting them at risk for heart disease, stroke and many other serious health conditions," said Dr. Appathurai Balamurugan, medical director for the agency's chronic disease prevention and control branch.
The event is open to customers, stylists and the broader community, the department said.
"It's important that we reach people in places that are convenient to them and hair salons and barbershops are a great way to do that," said Michelle Smith, the director of the department's minority health and health disparities office.
Participating locations and times include:
• ABC Beauty College/Cutting Edge Salon, 203 S. 26th St., in Arkadelphia, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Arkansas College of Barbering & Hair Design, 200 Washington Ave. in North Little Rock, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Arkansas College of Barbering & Hair Design, 8521 Geyer Springs Road, Unit 30, in Little Rock, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• New Image, 8817 Geyer Springs Road in Little Rock, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• New Tyler Barber College, 1221 Bishop Lindsey Ave. in North Little Rock, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• ExSalonce 2K Beauty Salon, 346 N. Sebastian St. in Helena-West Helena, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Salon de Belleza Patricia, 5319 W. 65th St. in Little Rock, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Velvatex College of Beauty Culture, 1520 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Little Rock, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Metro on 04/11/2015