You can measure your blood pressure by going to the doctor and asking him to do it, or by doing it yourself with the help of a blood pressure monitor. Those who don't have high blood pressure can visit the doctor once a month to see how the values of their blood pressure have changed, but those who have high blood pressure need to measure it much more often. The higher the blood pressure is, the more measurements are required. At many patients the doctor must learn the values a few times a week, and at those with very high blood pressure, a few times a day. So, acquiring a blood pressure monitor can be really useful because you can find out the values of the blood pressure at home as many times per day as you want.

There are two main types of blood pressure monitors: digital and aneroid.

Aneroid blood pressure monitors are easily portable and easy to use. However, they are very sensitive and can be broken or damaged very easy. In order to find out the value of your blood pressure you need to listen to a stethoscope that is connected to a cuff that wraps around the arm. They are very cheap.

Digital blood pressure monitors are small devices, as big as a cell phone or a walkman, connected to a cuff that is worn on the arm. The cuff measures the blood pressure and sends the value to the blood pressure monitor, which displays it and records it. Some of them can even print a list with the last measurements. Digital blood pressure monitors are more modern and easier to use than aneroid ones, but they are more expensive too.

Wrist and finger blood monitors are available on the market too, but research has shown that they are not as accurate as the ones mentioned above.

Remember that before you use a blood pressure monitor to measure its value you shouldn't drink alcohol, coffee, or smoke tobacco because they raise the blood pressure temporarily. When you measure it, make sure that you are rested and you are sitting in a comfortable position.

If you have a blood pressure monitor, you have to keep a list with the values of all the measurements. This list must be taken to the doctor each week, so he can make a chart based on it and see how the treatment is progressing. Blood pressure monitors are very useful for those who want to quickly and effectively lower their blood pressure.