Image is crop from image at their product page.
Easy and modern way to take your BP (and HR). It is allegedly a medical grade device.
This modern version off a cuff is really handy, and uploads to be viewed from an app on the phone.
I have set it at a suitable width for my arm, and I can mount and dismount it in seconds as a sleeve, and just need to press one large button, to have it turn on and take a reading. So just about any old fool can do that!!
It even got auto-off too, so you do not have to do anything else.
The cuff can fit arm circumferences from 22-42cm and is 14cm wide, weighs 215g.
The ‘box’ on top of the cuff sticks up 22mm high and has an 123mm x 46mm surface area.
It has a standard USB-C port for charging (I do not know how many inflations/readings it can do on a charge, but I have taken at the least a score on the initial charging)
I already got their scale using the same app, and they show the results as graphs or if you prefer text as a timeline. If there are any outliers you know are measuring errors, you can remove them, or add a note.
Easy and convenient.
Be aware that they advertise ‘integration’ with a number of other of their models where you are supposed to take an image of the display of the BP-reader from the app(!). And though it works, I’m quite sure that you will never get an elderly citizen to fiddle with that, when you can get a fully automated solution at an affordable price. INcluding the high Danish 25% VAT I paid 399DKK or roughly £47, or less taxes US$49. I returned a 25% cheaper BM23 as I was not going to fiddle with that, and I would dare to claim that I’m more tech savvy than most old farts at my age…. From the MRP it seems I found the BM59 at a good price though.
The reader got a one-user memory with room for 240 readings, so not super important whether it uploads the results right away. Though they warn in the manual that the time is likely to drift if not synced with the phone by their app “regularly”.
Unlike the scale, it only supports a single person, but at that price I would suggest buying one per person anyway, if more than one in the household needs to keep an eye on their BP, so you do not have to fiddle with adjusting for the arm-width each time!
It also shows HR, and allegedly can even tell if arrhythmia is detected.
A minor bug in the software with two conflicting features:
* If you from Off press the left button shortly it displays the last measurement, and the left/right buttons then works as previous/next browsing through the history.
* If you from Off press and hold the left button for a few seconds it wipes the devices, with no request for confirmation. That is not a big deal in it self, but not that clever for a device that is likely to be used by elderly persons.
BUT it is the combination that has the bug. if you while browsing hold the left button a little too long, it wipes everything!!! It does neither do a fast rewind nor wipe the displayed one, as could be expected intuitively…
I deliberately tried the long press to see if I could wipe a single borked reading, like I can in the app, and was rather surprised that everything was just wiped, with no confirmation requested.
The users guide can be found here.
BP-cuffs in general
I have never had such a cuff before, but have noticed the rather detailed description of requirements in this manual and others. But yet I was surprised on HOW picky they really are!!
If I sit relaxed in exactly the same position I get consistent result, but slight deviation in position and the reading can change from “all is fine” to not so much.
I sat slightly leaned backwards in an office chair with tilt and the feet on the ‘wheel-arms’ and got 133/84 and 63bpm. I then tilted the chair back straight up and repeated with my feet in the ground and got 114/76 and 65 bpm sitting in the position I was supposed to according to the manuals….
Here section 6.4 from the manual of the BM59:
General rules when measuring your own blood pressure
• In order to generate an informative profile of changes in your blood pressure that can be used for comparisons, you should measure your blood pressure regularly and always at the same time of day.
Measure your blood pressure twice a day: once in the morning after getting up and once in the evening.
• Always perform the measurement when you are sufficiently physically rested. Avoid taking measurements at stressful times.
• Do not take a measurement within 30 minutes of eating, drinking, smoking or exercising.
• Before the initial blood pressure measurement, make sure always to rest for about 5 minutes.
• If you want to take several measurements in succession, always make sure that you leave 5 minutes between each measurement.
• Repeat the measurement if you have doubts about the measured value.
Attaching the cu ff
You can measure your blood pressure on either arm. Some deviations between the values in the right and left arm are perfectly normal. Always perform the measurement on the arm with the higher blood pressure values. Consult your doctor about this before starting self-measurement.
• Always measure your blood pressure on the same arm.
• The blood pressure measurement is suitable for adult users whose upper arm circumference is within the range printed on the cu (22 to 42 cm).
• Before taking the measurement, check the fit using the index mark described below.
• Expose your upper arm. The circulation of the arm must not be hindered by tight clothing or similar.
• The cuff must be placed on the upper arm so that the bottom edge is positioned 2-3 cm above the elbow and over the artery D .
The cuff should be fastened so that two fingers fit under the cu when it is closed E .
Adopting the correct posture
• Sit in a comfortable upright position when taking the blood pressure measurement. Lean back so that your back is supported.
• Place your arm on a surface F .
• Place your feet flat on the ground next to one another.
• The cu must be level with your heart.
• Stay as still as possible during the measurement and do not talk.
Here the similar for a Huawei D2 smartwatch
So indeed a lot of rules!!