It is recommended that all individuals with high blood pressure (130/80 or higher) use a home blood pressure monitor. Monitoring your blood pressure at home can help you track your blood pressure in a comfortable setting. If you are taking medication for high blood pressure, it will also ensure that the medication is working and may alert you to a health problem. Here are some important factors to consider when looking for blood pressure monitors.

Best Monitors

The most accurate and user-friendly home blood pressure monitors are automatic upper arm monitors, powered by electricity or batteries. These monitors tend to be more reliable than wrist or fingertip monitors. With an automatic arm monitor, you simply wrap the cuff around your bicep and push a button on the device which will cause the cuff to automatically inflate and then deflate, reporting your blood pressure on the display window in a matter of seconds.

Many automatic monitors come with advanced features such as irregular heartbeat detection to identify arrhythmias and other abnormalities, risk category indicators that tells you whether your blood pressure is in the high range and a data-averaging function for more accurate readings. Additionally, some models may include multiple user memory that allows two or more users to save their readings separately and downloadable memory that transmits data to your smartphone or computer.

You can purchase blood pressure monitors without a prescription at pharmacies, medical supply stores or online. Prices may vary depending on where you purchase the blood pressure monitor.

How to Measure

After you buy your monitor, consider taking it to your doctor’s office so they can check its accuracy and make sure you are using it properly. Here are some additional steps to follow to ensure you get accurate measurements at home.

Be still: Do not exercise, smoke or drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol for at least 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. It is also best to empty your bladder and ensure at least five minutes of rest for the most accurate results.

Sit correctly: Sit with your back straight and supported (preferably on a dining chair, rather than a sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor and your legs should not be crossed. Your arm should be supported on a flat surface (such as a table) with the upper arm at heart level. Ensure the middle of the cuff is placed directly above the bend of the elbow. Refer to your monitor’s instructions for an illustration.

Do not measure over clothing: Put the cuff directly on your skin. Placing it over clothes can raise your systolic (upper) number by up to 40 mmHg.

Measure at the same time: It is important to take your blood pressure at the same time each day, such as in the morning before taking medications or in the evening before dinner.

Take multiple readings: Each time you measure, take at least two readings one to three minutes apart and record the results.

For more information on high blood pressure and how to accurately measure it at home, visit Heart.org/HBP.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

With a growing number of fraudsters and scammers looking for victims, it is important for individuals to be able to distinguish legitimate IRS staff from imposters. All taxpayers should understand basic ways to protect themselves from fraudulent text messages, emails, phone contacts or in-person visits.

1. Text Messages — The IRS does not send text messages to individuals with shortened links. Scammers will frequently send text messages that include a bogus link. If you receive an unexpected text, you should NOT click on links or open attachments.
2. Send a Screenshot — If you do receive a suspicious text message, you should send a screenshot of it as an attachment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For individuals with an iPhone, you can take a screenshot by clicking both the Volume Up and the Power button of your phone at the same time. The screenshot will appear as a thumbnail in the lower left corner of the screen. Click on the screenshot to edit, select Done at the top left and save it to your photos. You may then select the photo of the screenshot, click the lower left button to allow you to choose your email service and send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the screenshot.
3. Email Scams — The IRS does not ask for personal or financial information with an initial contact by email. The standard IRS contact will be through several letters by regular mail. Any suspicious emails should also be forwarded to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For additional instructions, visit the "Report phishing and online scams" page on IRS.gov.
4. Individuals Who Owe Tax — If you owe tax to the IRS, you can expect to receive several letters prior to a phone call. The IRS may follow up the letters with a phone call if you have an overdue tax bill, a delinquent tax return or have failed to make an unemployment tax deposit. The IRS emphasizes it will not demand immediate payment by specific payment methods like debit cards or gift cards or ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. They will also not threaten you with arrest by the local police or demand tax payments without giving you an opportunity to appeal the claim. These strategies all indicate you are talking with a scammer.
5. IRS Agent In-Person Visits — Generally, IRS officers only make visits after you have received several notices by mail. The IRS Revenue Agent may make a visit for the purpose of education, investigation and appropriate enforcement steps. IRS auditors may also mail an initial appointment letter and generally will call and confirm the date prior to a scheduled audit appointment. If you have an in-person visit with an IRS representative, you should always ask for his or her credentials and HSPD-12 card, a government identification card that will display the agent’s photograph.
6. Resolving Tax Issues — On IRS.gov, there are several helpful sections that may assist taxpayers in creating payment plans. You can pay taxes through an Online Account with IRS Direct Pay or by using your debit or credit card. There are individuals who may qualify for a payment plan or an Offer in Compromise. The IRS again emphasizes it will not demand immediate payment, will not ask for credit or debit card numbers, will not threaten to have you arrested by local police and will always offer an opportunity to appeal. You may also be eligible to have an IRS Appeals Officer review your case prior to any further action.

Editor's Note: The fraudsters and scammers continue to become more sophisticated. Many of them build a relationship with the victim through multiple emails or phone calls prior to committing fraud. Individuals should be careful and request further verification if they have multiple contacts with someone who claims to be from the IRS.