2 BOCNEWS.com MAY 2018 "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." — I Corinthians 9:25 An event happened recently which we really need to pay attention to. The event was the publishing of an article March 12, 2018 in a very prestigious medical journal: The New England Journal of Medicine. The arti- cle was about a study done involving blood pressure measurement, evalu- ation and treatment in Los Angeles, California, in Black barbershops. This study involved specially trained phar- macists who could measure blood pres- sure and give medications as needed to lower blood pressure. There was also physicians overseeing the study. There was careful follow-up of the 319 men tracked in the study, in 52 black- owned barbershops over a six month period of time. The significant finding was that among those who had uncontrolled hypertension defined as blood pres- sure 140/90 or greater, the treatment which involved 1 to 3 medications as was necessary, produced larger levels of blood pressure control in those bar- bershops where the pharmacists were not working and the men received life- style counseling and referral to a doc- tor. The goal blood pressure was less than 130/80. The article stated what the basic problem was going into the study in that it was known that non-Hispanic black men have the highest rate of hypertension related deaths of any racial ethnic, or sex group in the Unites States. Even though the inter- vention was not done in a clinic, but in barbershops, there was obvious ben- efit. Those of us who have done blood pressure screening and health educa- tion in barbershops were not shocked at the benefit at all. The conclusion we need to reach is that a clinic may not be the only place where effective medi- cal intervention can be done. However we need to remember that this study required some specially trained people and involved a significant amount of money spent. This tells us we need to find a way to do an intervention in barbershops that can be done where we do not have a large grant as this would not be feasible everywhere. Screening and health intervention can in fact be done in the barbershop. It takes careful planning and diligent efforts. It also takes referral to the pri- mary care physicians of those seen in the barbershops as indicated. Health education is critical. Many volunteers are needed to make it all possible. We need to also stop and realize that women must also be included in the screening, and that some shops are actually Barbershops, and Salons. Death due to hypertension for black women is among the highest in industrialized or richer countries. Thus it appears that intervention for Barbershops/Salons can have signifi- cant benefits. We cannot place phar- macists with medications in all these facilities, but we can do as much as we can to do blood pressure screening and health education, in these non- clinic settings. We can do other things such as blood sugar screenings and giving out as much health education material as we can. We can try to help those who do not have health insur- ance get access to medical care. A lot of people can be helped by doing this. I would just like to challenge your thinking. If you are 18 years of age or older, when was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? Even if you have no known past history of hypertension and it has been a year or so since you had your blood pressure checked, have it checked again and every year at least. Even if you feel per- fectly well, and it has been awhile since you had someone measure your blood pressure--it is time. No matter what your profession is, get it checked! I knew a preacher who thought because he was preaching the gospel he was essentially immune to high blood pres- sure. Well, one day he had a stroke and his career was essentially over, and it was a great tragedy, and he had significant hypertension. Do not avoid or put off getting checked. It takes a very short time to get your blood pres- sure and also blood sugar checked. If you know you are overweight, this needs attention as it can have an impact on your blood pressure, blood sugar, your heart, and your kidneys. None of us are immune to having even a catastrophic illness. If you know certain diseases run in your family, get the screening you need. We have to care for our bodies as if they belong to God, which they do. It is truly tragic to see what happens in too many of our communities in our country especially in the inner city. Black Americans may have strokes and heart attacks at a relatively young age. Don't let this happen to you! Here are some important things you can do: ■ ■ Get your blood pressure measured at least annually or as your doctor advises ■ ■ Aim for a blood pressure at least less than 130/80 or as medically advised ■ ■ If you are on medications, take them as directed, never stop them without calling your doctor, and please do not take herbal or over the counter medications without medical advice ■ ■ You can get a blood pressure device so you can check it yourself at home, and also as directed get a glucometer to check blood sugars at home as needed ■ ■ Watch your weight, as directed by your doctor as it can have an impact on your blood pressure and blood sugar ■ ■ Remember, exercise should not be considered as optional! ■ ■ If you smoke-Quit and do not just cut down! May God help you to live longer and better. Please Get Your Blood Pressure Measured! Dr. Conner By Byron E. Conner, M.D. HEALTH SCRIPTURE Death due to hypertension for black women is among the highest in industrialized or richer countries. Thus it appears that intervention for Barbershops/ Salons can have significant benefits. A House Divided What has divided our Churches? There are two Sprits which has divided the Church one half has "lying Lips" the other half has "deceitful tongs". Remember God's word tell us a divided house can not stand. Let's see what God is Commanding from us. God speaks to us in the book of James 3:10, where He tells us about the tongue,"Out of the same Mouth proceedeth blessing and curs- ing my Brethren these things ought not to be so". In the Book of Psalms 120: 1-2. "In my distress I cried unto the Lord and he heard me, v2. Deliver my soul O'Lord from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue". What is wrong Saints of God lets control our Tongue, we are hurting each other, we are the reason people are leaving the Church some are leaving hurt, because of someone's tongue and what is happening we are turning them away from God. We go to Church looking for people who have the love of Jesus in their hearts. People who speak the truth, and use their tongue too encourage people and each other. We need to use our tongue to bring people together, and use our tongue to speak words that will send them away knowing that everything is going to get better, JESUS CAN. They need a word from God, Knowing there is no deceit of lies in their tongue. Let's pray against these Sprits and cover them in the blood of Jesus so they can not rise again, Bless God , We have the power let's Stop and "Think" what is your tongue saying are we using it to lie, or are we speaking the truth, Yes sometime the truth hurts, but when we speak the truth, we are Pleasing in God's Sight. Sometime we use our tongue to be deceitful to one another. In the book of Romans14:10 " But why dost thou judge thy bother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ! May God Bless You. We go to Church looking for people who have the love of Jesus in their hearts. People who speak the truth. By Sis Carrie