Haircuts can bring down high blood pressure, says Azmin backer

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 4 years ago · Published on 12 Apr 2020 1:24PM · 20 Comments

A fireman getting a free haircut in Semenyih, Selangor, on Thursday. The government’s decision to allow barbershops to reopen in the third phase of the MCO, which starts next week, has courted criticism even from those in the trade. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, April 12, 2020.

HAIRCUTS can help reduce high blood pressure, said a staunch supporter of Senior Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali when backing Putrajaya’s decision to allow barbershops to reopen during the movement-control order (MCO).

Dr Afif Bahardin, who is Seberang Jaya assemblyman and former Penang health exco, cited studies in the New England Journal of Medicine that appear to recommend haircuts as a way to help those with the condition.

Afif quit as exco after Azmin left PKR with 10 other MPs to team up with Bersatu and form the Perikatan Nasional government.

However, Afif has remained with PKR and Pakatan Harapan.

“Research in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that cutting hair has the potential to reduce high blood pressure – a problem experienced by Malaysians now,” he said in a series of tweets today.

He said the government’s decision to allow barbershops to operate will help the trade, which has suffered due to shutdown orders under the government directive to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Barbershops that choose to reopen must strictly follow standard operating procedures and guidelines to prevent infections, he added.

“Staff and clients must ensure that they do not have symptoms such as fever or cough, and operators must ensure that their premises are disinfected and have high standards of cleanliness.

“Social distancing should be observed, as well as frequent hand-washing and wearing masks, while tools should be regularly cleaned.”

Afif joins the chorus of criticism against PN’s decision to allow barbershops to resume business in the third phase of the MCO, which will begin on Wednesday and last till April 28.

The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), which is helmed by Azmin, was the one that decided on easing restrictions for some industries.

Controversy erupted over the ministry’s inclusion of barbers and opticians among those who can continue operations while the MCO is in place.

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday voiced disagreement with the move to allow barbershops to reopen.

Other businesses given the nod to resume operations include automotive, machine-parts and hardware manufacturers.

Optometrist services and large-scale construction projects, too, are allowed to continue, pending approval from Miti.

Negri Sembilan and Penang, which are run by Pakatan Harapan, have ordered barbershops closed despite the government’s green light.

A barbers’ group has also dismissed Putrajaya’s move, saying the trade necessitates coming into close contact with clients, which poses the risk of Covid-19 infection. – April 12, 2020.

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Comments

  • There are other ways to reduce high blood pressure or stress.

    Posted 4 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • What an IDIOT!!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Stupid! HP is the least concern now vs being infected by the virus.

    Posted 4 years ago by CHEH Liang Mok · Reply

  • There is a study by the University of Michigan showing that retail therapy (shopping) brings down BP. Should we open all malls now?

    Posted 4 years ago by Léon Moch · Reply

  • Hair cut PN moron

    Posted 4 years ago by S L · Reply

  • Minister tak mati pandai bagi arahan lepas itu Sorok di rumah panggil barber ke rumah enjoy haircut. Yang mati Rakyat Biasa bukan Minister Monster.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply

  • He doesn't know how to read the article. Just like the air suam Minister.Medically trained but don't know from where!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply

  • He doesn't know how to read the article. Just like the air suam Minister.Medically trained but don't know from where!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply

  • https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1717250
    The article didn't mention about cutting hair will result in reduction in blood pressure.The barber shop was just a location for the sample study to be collected. It was the intervention by the doctors and Pharmacists that had resulted in the reduction of Blood Pressure.So Dr Afiff, Plesae don't malu yourself. Don't support your boss membabi buta.Damn Malu!! Pengkhianat Tak Tahu Malu.

    Posted 4 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply

    • The study in the journal is based on black owned barber shops and male non-Hispanic black patrons AND includes specially trained Pharmacist intervention who prescribed drugs. Are there a sizeable population of Malaysian non-Hispanic blacks amongst us? How misleading and dumb justification!!

      Posted 4 years ago by Tedin Ng · Reply

  • IQ same same like his boss. ministry of malaysian international barber industry. powerfull

    Posted 4 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Another of the backdoor gang talking rubbish. Whether haircut can indeed bring down blood pressure or not is one thing. But for sure the virus will continue to spread if barber shops and hair salons are allowed to operate.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Idiot of the highest order !!

    Posted 4 years ago by Mohammad Badry · Reply

  • Always think before one speaks or he will
    make himself look like a fool.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Pergi main belakang Pintu, darah Akan Turun

    Posted 4 years ago by Chai Hin Goh · Reply

  • Another stupid guy. Dont know why so many idiotic drs in the backdoor government. Its either he did not read the real article or couldnt understand the objective of the research n just jumped into stupid conclusion going by the face value of whatever report he read TK say such mind boggling n unsubstantiated conclusion that potong rambut untuk kawal Sarah tinggi!
    That was actually a research done by US NIH, not by NEJM (which is a journal publisher, n not any research body), looking at linking community based/peer based influence in health promotion to the healthcare system, trying out to see if such program could serve as a new model for HTN control and cardiovascular risk reduction in African American men, who had great distrust on American health care system on a nationwide scale compared to currently popularised pharmacist-based health care promotion in control of HTN. Nothing to do do with cutting of hair will reduced/control HTN. Those barbershops, used as a community/neighbourhood friendly outreach, were recruited n paid to give health promotion in treatment n control of HTN among African Americans.

    Posted 4 years ago by Kim Seng Lee · Reply

  • gave up on this govt.....

    Posted 4 years ago by . . · Reply

  • This Dr is probably a quake or silly doctor who does not understand the report or a lazy one who does not read it. The report quoted by him obviously did not come to that conclusion but in his haste to ampu-bodek the Minister, he has exposed his own stupidity and compounded the stupidity of the Minister as well. That was a bad decision and any justification only reveals more stupidity. AA should just withdraw the decision and admit his mistake, or is he too arrogant to do so, not that he is Senior Minister and "DPM". Sadly, we have a bunch of clowns in office governing the country because of the "great" AA and Zuraidah.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • What a moron...height of stupidity...our future leaders!!!!....God bless Malaysia...we need it with such idiots.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • I would seriously recommend him to make an appointment with his barber if he suffers from hypertension.

    Posted 4 years ago by H. Mokhtar · Reply