You are the best monitoring device for your blood pressure. Blood pressure challenges is a continuous process with those who have either genetic tendencies or behavioral patterns that contribute to hypertension.

Blood pressure monitors are effective in letting you know what aspects of your life increases and decreases your blood pressure. But they cannot replace your abilities to monitor and change your actions especially during physical activities such as cardiovascular endurance exercises.

Since blood pressure is an aspect of daily life, you need to find ways to monitor it continuously in addition to your regular physical exams.

Changing lifestyles could be difficult especially when the changes are based on guesswork. Monitoring your blood pressure takes the guesswork out of the process and help you focus on the changes that help.

Remember that remedies for blood pressure, improved blood flow and vasodilation, especially those that are considered natural, may take several weeks to show the effect, and many of them could have adverse side effects. Always discuss what you do or plan to do with your physician.

If you lean toward natural remedies, remember that sometimes you might need to add medication. Either way, monitoring blood pressure includes a written record that in part is the numbers and in part is the activities prior to the monitoring.

Writing down that your blood pressure is let say 138 over 90 means little without also recording that any time you have pizza your blood pressure rises. One significant aspect of recording is
to help you connect the dot between actions and their consequences.

It is very rewarding to find out how many steps you can take to lower your blood pressure without medication.

As far as equipment, you have many choices. I like the technology that allows me to record my data on my iPad or iPhone. Withings Wireless blood pressure monitor is what I use at home.

I also have a simple blood pressure monitor I purchased from CVS pharmacy in my office that I used for a quick check to see how my work and tension contributes to hypertension.

One feature of blood pressure monitors many do not think about is the cuff size. Make sure it fits you. A wrong cuff size may interfere with accurate reading.

And of course you need to make sure you place the cuff correctly on your arm. It is not rocket science but you may want to ask your doctor o your nurse show you where to position your cuff as well as your body arm position that should be at the same level as your heart.

Some postures crossing your knee or ankle may interfere with accurate reading as does clothing that restrict blood flow. Check your clothing for restrictions that you may be so used to that you no longer notice.