ITV regular Dr Amir Khan, who is known for his appearances on shows such as Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, has recommended that everyone over 40 should get a vital piece of kit this year, claiming “it could save your life.” He offered his top tip for what to do first in 2025, noting that ambitious New Year’s resolutions often fail, particularly those related to diet or lifestyle changes.
And in an Instagram update, he told his many followers: “You can choose to make healthy small achievable changes to your life at any point in the year – so if you don’t succeed in carrying them on past the first few weeks of January don’t be put off, just try again. But remember to make any goals realistic.”
He emphasised the importance of monitoring your blood pressure, especially after a milestone birthday, as it can help catch serious health issues early, potentially preventing heart attacks. He said: “If there is one thing I’d recommend it’s buying a home blood pressure machine (to anyone over 40, younger if you have a strong family history) – and monitoring your blood pressure at home.
“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, who is a full-time NHS GP, suggests the ideal time to take a reading is after resting for 20-30 minutes in a calm setting. The expert continued: “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.
“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, doing 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