Keeping a check on your health, in particular your blood pressure is very important, as high blood pressure can indicate or lead to serious health risks such heart disease and a stroke. A study was conducted in America to see if patients could improve their blood pressure and get it under control by having them test their blood pressure at home on a regular basis instead of just when they go in to see their doctor for a check-up. The patients sent 6 readings a week to be reviewed by pharmacists who then made slight alterations to their medication to help get the patient’s blood pressure under control, if needed. They would also make suggestions to the patient about general lifestyle with the aim of improving their blood pressure readings. The patients with these monitors were compared to those who did not have this ability for home checks and only had the regular check-ups with the doctor. When the trial was completed, 72% of those that had been using a home monitor had managed to get their blood pressure under control, compared with only 57% of those who didn't have one.

Monitoring your blood pressure at home on a regular basis can be very quick and simple and the study mentioned shows how much easier it can be to help treat and control it, which ultimately gives you a better health outlook.

More information on the study can be found at: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/checking-blood-pressure-at-home-pays-off-201307036436

There seems to be a new way to find that perfect match created all the time. There used to be a time when you would go for a night out with friends and see someone across the bar and then partake in some flirtatious conversation to get an idea if you click and are compatible, but this could be time consuming for the impatient ones among us. With the invention of the internet, the idea that you can meet someone from your own home changed this search and helped make things a little faster, but there is still some ground work of building up a profile and chatting to people, only to, perhaps in some cases, meet up and find out they are not who you were expecting at all…still not quite so quick and easy.

However, it seems that there is the potential of saving a lot of time and energy in the way we could find that perfect mate in the future with the help of science. A little bit of DNA is apparently all it takes. A home test is being developed to be able to tell you if you are compatible in terms of the person you are considering to be your mate is likely to cheat or be faithful and stick around for the long term. The test is only used for male testing at the moment. It works by profiling genes which controls neurotransmitters like oxytocin and vasopressin, which relates to commitment and fidelity. It seems that the reason people have given for cheating before may not be too far from the truth - it is in their DNA…it actually could be!

In today's society where everyone is constantly on the move and trying to fit endless tasks into a day and complaining there aren't enough hours, it is not surprising that home testing and even home diagnosing kits are becoming more widely available to pick up in a store or over the counter in a pharmacy. It is an easy way find out the possible answers that you want but don't have time to visit your doctor. It seems like the most natural development in everyday life to have a much wider variety of these tests considering people have been "testing" themselves at home for years, whether it is using a home pregnancy test or something as simple as checking your weight as a general interest or progress confirmation of a diet or exercise plan. With these home tests you can of course go that one step further for total ease and speed and buy them online instead of visiting a shop.

Of course some tests, depending on the result, would require visiting your doctor for more information or treatment. Ultimately the whole idea of testing and finding out the answer to those niggling and curious thoughts when you are in the comfort and privacy of your own home can and does offer a huge stress relief and peace of mind to many.