Portable and fixed-location computer-based systems containing computer software and medical modules, namely, blood pressure measuring apparatus, pulse rate monitors, respiration rate monitors, thermometers for body temperature measurement, blood glucose monitors, and scales for weight measurement, for enabling measurement, diagnosis and monitoring of personal vital signs related to chronic diseases of patients at various locations and transfer of information pertaining to such measurements over a communication medium, namely, a telephone connection, wireless communication connection, or the Internet, to a central monitoring station and to independent medical practitioners for review, diagnosis and monitoring purposes