As an aging physician, I have never been one to endorse or accept the readings from these automatic BP measuring devices. However, this one is different and as physician can give my personal impressions.
While always having been athletic, I have carried around 10-20lbs more than I would have liked. My cholesterol, more from genetics than anything, has always been elevated. However, my BP was always in the normal range. About 8 years ago, I went to a local CVS and my BP was read as 145/85, but I could never again confirm it as such high levels. My treating MD always found my BP in normal range.
So begins the tale. I began a very strict and stringent exercise regimen, began eating healthier (not totally) and ran very fast intervals followed by weights. Dropped 10 lbs and noticed one day my BP was "spuriously high" never again to be seen that high over the next 8 years. Developed a hip injury recently, which "luckily" led me to abandon running for awhile and use alternative machines like the Precor AMT (aggravated my hip "injury") and rowing machines (WaterRower for my home and Concept C2 for my vacation home). First the good news is that anyone looking to revamp their lifestyle and begin a good exercise regimen, I highly recommend rowing, assuming your doctor clears you for this. I am now 62 and after a trial back at running after a 7 month hiatus, the pain was unbearable. Being a terrible patient and ignoring what my body was telling me, literally barely able to walk to the hospital, I ordered an MRI of my hip on myself. The results were horrible. That "injury" was no injury but horrible bone contusions, torn labrum, sever degenerative changes, literally one of the worst hips I have seen in a long time. Running days OVER but rowing continues hoping to delay the total hip replacement.
Well while waiting for the MRI, my BP was 168/80. White coat "syndrome" most likely. However, I decided to check my BP more frequently using my old automatic machine and found it all over the place. To my surprise, my BP was mildly elevated in the AM, more elevated after my morning coffee and perfect AFTER exercising and slightly elevated after returning home from work. However, my readings were still unreliable.
Before going to my doctor, cardiologist friend, I wanted to have a better log. I bought this unit HOPING it would do what I wanted, was kind of leery as I don't trust mechanical BP machines all that much particularly gimmicky ones like this. I began three week logs to get a better idea what indeed was going on. Measured in the am upon awakening, before and after morning coffee, after exercise, before work, during work and at home. The results were astounding to me and all these years of "spuriously" high BP were probably not spurious but real.
People, while I am a physician, as a patient I am also a lay person. I bought into this "white coat syndrome" nonsense, stress nonsense, etc. This unit is so easy to use and to monitor one's BP I would recommend it to all, especially in light of the newest findings that cardiovascular risks are significantly reduced when you get below 120 regardless of the cause of the BP exceeding 120. If the "stress" of seeing your doctor, much less stress than most of life's stresses causes your BP to elevate, you are most likely having high BP during the day even IF during a very calming time in the day you choose to measure. Elevated BP is elevated regardless and this portable device will do what no doctor can do for you, namely help you not only in determining your BP throughout the day, but also in determining how well treatment, whether it be medicines or otherwise is doing. Having just seen my physician, I confirmed I do indeed have Grade I hypertension, checked the Qardio against his reading which was within a few mm of his manual one. The good news is my cholesterol, etc have become normal avoiding statins, however, I will need to go on ACE inhibitors to hopefully get my BP back to normal, unless I can find some other method to accomplish this feat.
I now have three weeks worth of data from the Qardio, am going to try some non pharmaceutical techniques for a few weeks and now that I have a baseline continue to monitor with the Qardio.
As a physician, I believe people need to take control of their health and outcomes and this product being so easy to use, portable and most importantly accurate is a product I would recommend to all. Since stopping my denial and becoming a patient myself, I have done just that. Folks, the newest data regarding BP is irrefutable and having just one reading at a doctors office every so often is, in my opinion, the wrong way to detect hypertension and products like these should become part of a person's routine, especially as we age and our vessels become less compliant.
Just my perspective so take it for what it's worth.
I have purchased two models of Bluetooth BP Monitors with the results being transferred to your phone for storage. They did not work out very well.This is my third, and it is fantastic!!
1. The readings are similar to my doctor's expensive monitor.
2. The "app" that goes with it - is also Great and easy to figure out and use.
3. The device is small and compact - but still takes your BP reading on the upper arm - just where the medical people take it.
4. It is light and easy to pack. You can actually put it in your suit pocket - just like the advertisement depicts.
5. You can lock in your Bluetooth address - so the unit does not try to pair with a nearby phone.
6. There is a "guest" mode - where someone can use or try out your Monitor without the result being included in your own readings.
7. I love it!!! :-)
I have now been using the QardioArm BP monitor of and on for about 18 months. I wanted to respond to some of the issues on connectivity that folks have been writing about. A few comments that may be of value to folks interested in purchasing this monitor:
A few comments:
1) It is accurate and consistent if used properly. I have tested it at the doctor's office alternating between their professional cuff and the Qardio. Both the doctor and nurse took multiple measurements and the doctor commented that he believes the small variations are within the normal range.
2) Qardio is incredibly easy to use once you get the hang of it. I have a Samsung S7 Edge paired with the Qardio. Works almost every time. The one time it did not work after the initial few set up issues on my older Motorola handset, was easily remedied by simply turning the BT radio off and immediately on again.
3) Remember to have the "Qardio" word on the side closer to the palm of your hand. If you are checking on left arm, the word should be readable right side up when you look down.
4) Always turn on the app on the phone before you open the device and pull on the tab connected to the metal rod. The grey "Start" circle should turn green within a few seconds after the tab is pulled and the rod is separated from the device.
5) For a proper reading - please relax and sit back. It is important that your back is supported and the heart is about the same height as the measurement unit. I have tested it with below the heart height and found the numbers to be higher.
* Updated: received replacement unit from Qardio, I set up with triple measurement as I had on the first, reading was much closer to my Omron, systolic/diastolic within 5 points … but pulse was 18 to 34 points higher with a "irregular heartbeat" warning. This was consistent over the next 10 days. I had a scheduled EKG midway through and all was normal. So I dialed back the triple measurement to single measurement - and pulse is within 3-7 points of the Omron. I then took the Qardio to the Drs office and compared to their BP system and was within 3-5 points of the Dr's system.
Conclusion: I'm switching to the Qardio tool as the app benefits outweigh the manual Omron tool and is much more mobile and compact.
* Update: Qardio response - Thank you for your patience while we worked on your case! We have arranged for your new QardioArm to be sent to your address. Will run another test with Omron and Dr's Medical device for update
I used my unit for a month alongside my Omron unit to test it's accuracy before giving up my Omron. The Qardio was consistently 6 to 8 points higher in systolic/diastolic readings than the Omron, and the pulse was consistently higher despite following the video instructions - getting the "irregular heartbeat" warnings. I used the triple-check mode for the balance of the month. My doctor's appointment was Oct 27th and their pressure devices and an EKG confirmed was consistently closer to the Omron readings - the Qardio 6-8 points higher, with no irregular heartbeat issues (nice!). My Amazon return due date was Oct 25th ;( my bad …
I recapped the above to Qardio Customer Service, their response: "We are sorry that you wish to return your order. Please note that orders which were placed on Amazon, or any other third party retailer, must be returned to those retailers directly, and adhere to their return policies." Qardio did not offer to replace the unit, so I requested for credit on upcoming product release, their response: "Unfortunately, we are no longer taking pre-orders for "future releases" and we do not issue credits for future purchases. We are unable to honor returns from Amazon as it is a separate store. I'm happy to troubleshoot your device in accordance with the limited warranty. If you'd like assistance with troubleshooting your device, just let me know."
Make sure you know your Amazon return due date!
This thing is awesome. It does exactly what I want. I had the same issue as struggling a bit with the machine turning off and in that you will see in the other reviews, but the solution for me was easy: the batter case is designed in a way that you easily can pop the cover on and off a thousand times and it won’t break, so I just pop one of the triple A batteries out when i am done using it. I store the device and the 4th battery in the case it came it in. When I am ready to use it, I pop the 4th battery in it, unroll the armband, and it works perfectly every, single, time. This is a small price to pay for an in-home device that seemlessly uploads my info into the Apple Health app. It is easy to use, too. The people that can’t figure out how to put it on one-handed lack common sense: put your chin on it to hold it in place, while you use your other hand to close the strap... this is so easy and intuitive I am surprised that people complain about this.
Feature Product
- CLINICAL ACCURACY AT HOME and ON-THE-GO: easily monitor your blood pressure in the comfort of your home, when traveling, or at work, trusted by healthcare professionals. Refer to the manual for the best results.
- EASY SETUP: connects to your smartphone via free App. Works with Apple Watch or Android Wear (iOS 10.0 or later, Kindle, Android 5 or later, Android Wear and Apple Watch. Requires Bluetooth 4.0.and up).
- SMART DESIGN: this stylish, very light and portable, one-piece wide-range cuff fits standard to large adult upper arms 8.7-14.6 in circumference (22-37cm), fully wireless, light, discrete. Battery life up to a year of frequent use.
- SECURE DATA MANAGEMENT: store, monitor, track your progress in your app, on demand sharing with your family or doctor (in app or via email).
- ADVANCED FEATURES: measurement charts, pregnancy mode, multi-user, easy guest mode, reminder, add notes, irregular heart beat detection
- DATA SHARE: QardioArm can be paired with up to eight smart phones or tablets at any given time. Share your data automatically with friends and family using the in-app function or send your results to your doctor via email.
- NOTE: Please refer to the user manual for trouble shooting
Description
DEVICES COMPATIBLE WITH QARDIO
All devices require the companion QardioApp which works with iOS and Android devices with Bluetooth 4.0 (or later). QardioCore is available on iOS only. It is recommended to use Qardio App with a validated device to ensure maximum reliability
iOS
The Qardio App works with iOS 10.0 or later and Bluetooth 4.0
List of iOS devices validated to work with theQardioArm, QardioBase andQardioCore
– iPhone 5 or later
– iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad 4 Gen or later
– iPod Touch 6th Gen or later
– Apple Watch
Android
The Qardio App works with Android 5 or later and requires access to Google Play
List of Android devices validated to work withQardioArm &QardioBase
– Samsung Galaxy S4 or later
– Samsung Galaxy Note3 or later
– Google Pixel 1 and 2
– Google Nexus 4 or later
– Motorola Moto X/Droid Turbo
– OnePlus One or later
Kindle
The Qardio App works with Kindle devices with Bluetooth 4.0
The Qardio App works with the following Kindle devices
– Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 WAN (4th Gen)
– Amazon Fire HD 6 (4th Gen)
– Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 WAN (3rd Gen)
– Amazon Fire HDX WiFi (4th Gen)
– Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 WiFi (3rd Gen)
– Amazon Fire HD 7 (4th Gen)
Thought I did a bad review on this item as I thought I was going to return it. Went over instructions very carefully and realized I had cuff positioned incorrectly. The pictograms looks like the sensing unit sits on top of the arm while the instructions say to position it on the inside of the arm. With unit positioned correctly results are comparable to my old unit. Should probably give a five star review but the instructions are confusing.
I've been using this cuff for a few weeks and other than it arriving with dead batteries, I have nothing but good things to say about it. Prior to this purchase, I was using a 'regular' home automatic BP cuff, and while it was accurate and easy to use, it didn't store my data in a format that allowed me to view multiple readings at once like the QuardioArm. On top of that, the app makes it possible to email your readings. Data can be shared with the iPhone's iHealth if you want it to.
The cuff itself is pretty basic... there's a plastic "box" attached to a BP cuff. When you expand the cuff, the unit turns on and connects with your phone. You slide the cuff on your arm, tighten it and push the big green button on your phone. A few seconds later, you wrap the cuff back around the plastic box (which shuts it off again) and your BP is recorded on your phone.
I admit I was a little concerned when I first received the unit because it wouldn't connect with my phone. After a few tries, I decided to look through the manual (yeah I'm one of those guys, sorry) and read that a small green LED should be visible when the unit is powered on. Since I didn't see a green light, I realized the batteries were dead. I replaced the dead batteries with 4 AAA rechargeables and it's worked great ever since. For me, the set of rechargeable batteries lasted 23 days of 2x/day BP measurements (I'm not sure how long they'd been sitting since they were last charged, so I'm expecting better results out of a set of freshly-charged batteries).
If you're looking for a simple way to measure and track your BP on a regular basis, this monitor and the free app provide a pretty simple and effortless way to do so.
I love the app connectivity. I can email all of my stats to my doctor or print them out. It’s handy and simple to use. It’s provided a lot of information and feedback we need to get my medication at the right dose. It also has guest features so other people could use/track for themsves as well.
Occasionally it over-inflates which is uncomfortable to the point of pain. I have a feeling it’s when the batteries are low.
Speaking of batteries, it eats up batteries like no other. In fact, the batteries it came with were already dead. I’ve purchased fresh lithium batteries because the basic batteries lasted about 15 uses. That’s bonkers! Perhaps rechargeable is the best way to go.
Would still buy, even with this snafu.
Update #2. The cuff lasted maybe a year and a half before it stopped working well. I changed the batteries numerous times to try and get it to work but just couldn’t. The unit is easy to use and I guess $90-100 a year isn’t bad for the ease of use. I will probably get another one soon.
Update: I have been using this monitor since August of 2016. It is still holding up and found a fantastic job. My doctor likes the product and it is super convenient to take anywhere.
Battery life is good. I think I have changed them two or three times since bought.
It is very accurate when compared to other devices and my doctors readings.
I will buy another one if this one wears out.
My father had a heart attack last year and had a need to take his blood pressure often afterwards. The typical monitors record information but if someone grabs it and checks theirs it offers nothing exclusive to who the user was. Also, if the batteries die on a typical system the information saved is gone. I purchased this unit for my dad for the following reasons: 1. It logs your readings within an iPhone app. 2. It's wireless and easy.
He uses it literally every day. It travels with him and is very compact. It's very user friendly and something anyone of any age can use easily. Best of all what's the one thing we always have on us? YOUR PHONE. So when he goes to the cardiologist or doctor he has on him an archive of all of his readings that the doctor can easily view. It even offers the ability to send this log report to someone (doctor) externally. This is a GREAT device that offers the best advantages of technical innovation for the sake of practicality not just for the sake of appealing to gadget or tech lovers. I highly recommend it for anyone in the market for a monitor.
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