Barbershop: The Next Cut Cast Star in New PSAs to Promote Blood Pressure Awareness

The American Heart Association and Ad Council to Launch New Creative Promoting High Blood Pressure Awareness

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Mar 10, 2016, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, March 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to raise awareness and to motivate those with uncontrolled high blood pressure to take healthy steps, the American Heart Association and the Ad Council have received help from Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) on new ads featuring some of the cast of the upcoming release Barbershop: The Next Cut, a presentation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and New Line Cinema, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM.

Nearly 80 million Americans, or 1 in 3 adults, have high blood pressure, but only half of these individuals have their condition under control. Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is a vital component of cardiovascular health, as untreated hypertension puts individuals at high risk for stroke and heart attack.

"Millions of at-risk Americans can learn about the serious and often fatal consequences of hypertension through education. We are proud to have support from Warner Bros. Entertainment Pictures and MGM to spread this message about the importance of identifying and managing high blood pressure," said Dr. Mark A. Creager, president of the American Heart Association.

The new outdoor, digital, radio and TV PSAs feature cast members Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, and Anthony Anderson from the film Barbershop: The Next Cut. The ads reinforce the importance of taking time to have your blood pressure checked and taking steps to better lower high blood pressure to avoid serious consequences like a heart attack or a stroke. Audiences are directed to visit heart.org/bloodpressure or to join a new mobile-based blood pressure management program by texting "Barbershop" to 97779.

The new PSAs are an extension of the Ad Council and American Heart Association's campaign encouraging individuals with high blood pressure to keep their condition under control. Visitors to heart.org/bloodpressure can learn more about the consequences of hypertension, home blood pressure checks, risk calculation, changing and maintaining blood pressure, and obtain additional resources. Participants in the new mobile-based blood pressure management program are segmented based on their current blood pressure numbers and then enrolled into challenges that help them move from checking their blood pressure regularly, to changing their habits, and finally to controlling their pressure.

Per the Ad Council's model, the PSAs will be distributed to media outlets nationwide where they will run in space and time donated by the media.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America's No. 1 and No. 5 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Ad Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or view our PSAs on YouTube.

About Barbershop: The Next Cut

Barbershop: The Next Cut stars Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson, Eve, JB Smoove, with Common and Nicki Minaj. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee from a screenplay by Kenya Barris & Tracy Oliver, it is produced by Robert Teitel, p.g.a George L. Tillman Jr., p.g.a. and Ice Cube, p.g.a. Malcolm D. Lee, Becki Cross Trujillo, Ronald G. Muhammad and Jeff Kwatinetz served as executive producers. Greg Gardiner is the director of photography; Ina Mayhew, the production designer; Paul Millspaugh, the editor; and Danielle Hollowell, the costume designer. Music Supervisor is Gabe Hilfer with music by Stanley Clarke. Opening nationwide April 15, 2016, Barbershop: The Next Cut, is a presentation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and New Line Cinema, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Rated PG-13.