A prominent TV doctor has issued an urgent call to action for anyone over 40, advising them to purchase a £15 device that could be pivotal in saving their lives. NHS' very own Dr Amir Khan, who regularly graces the screens of ITV's Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, emphasised the importance of regular blood pressure checks to stave off the 'silent killer' that is hypertension.
On Lorraine, Dr Amir Khan stressed the necessity for people to equip themselves with this inexpensive but potentially life-saving tool as soon as they can. He stated: "I would say every person over the age of 40 should be checking their blood pressure regularly at home.
"Good blood pressure improves blood flow to the brain, reduces your risk of dementia. Buy one of these from your chemist. It can cost about 15 quid. Check your blood pressure maybe once or twice a week if it's. sit down or relax for 30 minutes, check it then."
He recommended adopting a routine check-up: "Do it morning and evening, vary it throughout the week. It's the average reading you're interested in, not just one-off readings. And if your average readings are high, speak to your doctor about managing your blood pressure, but this could be a lifesaver."
Recognised as a major health threat, high blood pressure or hypertension is notorious for causing extensive damage to blood vessels and organs silently, thereby massively heightening the likelihood of critical conditions such as heart diseases and strokes.
A blood pressure monitor is a critical tool for detecting early serious health conditions that could lead to heart attacks. Highlighting its importance, he has previously stated: "Lots of people have high blood pressure and don't know it, it's often called the silent killer.
"Undiagnosed or poorly managed blood pressure increases risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, eye disease and other things so knowing your blood pressure numbers and keeping them at healthy levels is really important."
Dr Khan, an NHS doctor, advises the optimal time to check your blood pressure is after resting for 20-30 minutes in a calm setting. He said: "Blood pressure will naturally fluctuate throughout the day, so don't worry if all the readings are not the same - but if your readings are persistently raised then speak to a healthcare professional.
• Sit quietly for 5 minutes before measuring
• Rest your arm on a table at heart level
• Take 2 readings, 1 minute apart, morning and evening for 7 days
• Record the results and average them
What’s normal?
• Ideal: under 120/80 mmHg
• High: 140/90 mmHg or more (or 135/85 mmHg if checking at home)
“Readings that average higher than 135-140/85-90 need to be looked at by a healthcare professional. You can help keep your blood pressure healthy by stopping smoking, managing alcohol consumption, eating wholefoods, doiog regular movement, sleeping well and managing stress levels (easier said than done, I know)
“So if you haven’t already, make your New Year’s resolution to keep an eye on your blood pressure, keep it healthy and seek medical advice if it is persistently raised.”
For more information from the NHS on blood pressure click here.
