Medical advice usually discourages taking matters into your own hands. However, checking your own blood pressure can reduce hypertension, says a new study from Tufts University.
You can’t do it entirely alone, though. Researchers reviewed more than 50 studies on the effectiveness of self-monitored blood pressure (SMBP) and found that practicing SMBP in conjunction with a physician or clinician is a better bet than getting your readings checked only in a clinic.
Here’s how it works: You and your doctor create a tailored treatment plan. He’ll tell you how, and how frequently, to check your BP at home using portable cuffs—which are readily available at the local drugstore—to record and communicate the readings.
The method is effective because of the increased incentives to control your diet and step up your physical activity, says lead study author Ethan Balk, M.D., M.P.H. You already know that eating a salt-laden dinner isn’t the healthiest decision—but when you take your blood pressure afterward, you’ll be able to see first-hand how much your meal really affects your BP readings.
If you’re hypertensive, approach your doc about self-monitoring. The added bonus: You’ll cut back on trips to his office.
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