Blood pressure monitors: ITV doctor says people over 40 should buy one.

Dr Amir Khan advised that people aged over 40 should buy a home blood pressure monitor because high blood pressure is often symptomless and home readings can reveal persistently elevated levels that warrant professional review.

A TV doctor has urged people over 40 to buy a home blood pressure monitor and to monitor their readings early in 2026. Dr Amir Khan, who appears on ITV programmes, said high blood pressure is often symptomless and can lead to serious conditions. He noted that New Year resolutions can be ambitious and that small, realistic changes are easier to maintain. The NHS is cited as noting that the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked. Key facts: - Dr Amir Khan recommended a home blood pressure machine for anyone over 40 and for younger people with a strong family history, reported in an Instagram post. - He described high blood pressure as often symptomless and linked it to higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and eye disease. - He advised that the best time to check is after resting for 20–30 minutes and that blood pressure naturally fluctuates during the day. - Readings that average higher than about 135–140/85–90 were reported as needing review by a healthcare professional. - The NHS information noted that high blood pressure is common in older adults and that the only way to know is to have it checked. Summary: The article reports that an ITV medical presenter encouraged home monitoring of blood pressure for people over 40 to identify otherwise hidden elevated readings. Reported next steps include discussing persistently raised readings with a healthcare professional; further public uptake or official responses are undetermined at this time.