Nearly 1/3 of all American adults suffer from high blood pressure, and most don't get the treatment they need. A recent study shows there are ways to help these patients get their blood pressure under control, and all it takes is a little accountability.

It looks at the effectiveness of pairing at-home monitoring with online counseling from a pharmacist. Pharmacist Shannon Jewell of the PharmD Group Health Center for Home Studies in Seattle, Washington, says she sends patients a prompter email to see how they've been doing with lifestyle choices and blood pressure readings.

Pharmacists are able to tweak medication once or twice a month until it's just right for them. Dr. Beverly Green, MPH Study Author, says a fairly low-intensity intervention without clinical visits could get them under control.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found almost 60% of patients who took part in the online program had controlled blood pressure. That's compared to about 30% who received standard care. Reminders from pharmacists even keep patients walking regularly. At the beginning of the study, one patient's blood pressure averaged 157/92. Now, it's 128/74.

The next step is for researchers to see if web care cuts health costs. Even if your pharmacist isn't checking in on you, the American Heart Association recently recommended all people with hypertension regularly monitor their blood pressure at home. An upper arm cuff monitor costs around 50 dollars.