NHS GP and ITV doctor Dr Amir Khan is urging everyone over the age of 40 to buy a home blood pressure monitor, claiming the device "could literally save your life" and "prevent years of damage." In an Instagram post, the regular contributor to Lorraine and Good Morning Britain shared what he called "genuinely one of my top tips."
Why Blood Pressure Monitoring Matters After 40
"If you're over the age of 40, I genuinely think one of the best things you can do at home is buy a blood pressure monitor. It could literally save your life," Dr Khan said. As people age, blood vessels tend to stiffen, leading to increased blood pressure. Since high blood pressure often shows no symptoms, it is known as a "silent killer."
The doctor explained that blood pressure is "the force of blood pushing against the insides of your arteries. So when your heart contracts or squeezes to pump blood around your body, that's the top number. When it relaxes between beats, the pressure falls a little bit, and that is your bottom number, your diastolic blood pressure."
Target Blood Pressure Readings at Home
Dr Khan outlined general targets for home readings: ideal is below 120/80 mmHg; normal is below 135/85 mmHg; high is 135/85 mmHg or above averaged over several days. He stressed that high blood pressure rarely causes symptoms, but over years it can quietly damage blood vessels, increasing risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease, heart failure, and even dementia.
How to Get an Accurate Reading
For accurate results, Dr Khan advises sitting quietly for five minutes before measuring. Avoid caffeine, smoking, and exercise for 30 minutes prior. "Sit with your back supported, feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, and rest your arm on a table so the cuff is at the level of your heart," he said. "Keep it on your bare skin, not over clothing. Keep still, don't talk while it's measuring. Then take two readings one minute apart."
He recommends measuring morning and evening for seven days, ignoring the first reading and averaging the rest. "That's the measurement we use in general practice," he noted. "Remember, you may not feel high blood pressure, but you can find it and finding it early can prevent years of damage before symptoms even appear."
Free NHS Blood Pressure Checks
The NHS offers free blood pressure checks at many pharmacies for people aged 40 or over living in England. Those who already have high blood pressure or have had a check in the past six months are not eligible. A pharmacist will measure blood pressure and may offer lifestyle advice, provide a home monitor, or advise seeing a GP. Results are added to the patient's GP health record and are not shared unless readings are very high or low requiring urgent help.
